FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 14, 2015
Contact: Darrel Berry, Marketing Communications Manager
Hanson Professional Services Inc.
(217) 747-9291
dberry@hanson-inc.com
FAA issues exemption to Hanson for drone flights
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Hanson Professional Services Inc. has received an exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration that allows unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operation.
Hanson petitioned for the exemption June 30 to use a UAS, or drone, to collect data as part of its engineering, planning and surveying services. The firm will use a DJI Inspire 1 quadcopter and is permitted to add fixed-wing aircraft in the future.
“Hanson has always been an engineering firm on the leading edge of technological advances. By adding UAS services, we can offer new approaches and additional capabilities to clients,” Matt Schrader, PLS, a vice president and national geospatial technical leader at Hanson, said.
The drones can be used for services such as inspections, mapping, surveys, photography and videography of project sites; project corridor planning; wetland delineations; flood monitoring; utility corridor inspections, vegetation management and coal ash stockpile and impoundment volume surveys for power companies; and aviation obstruction surveying for airport runways.
A video of Hanson’s pilot in command, Brandon Tanner, EIT, testing the firm’s DJI Inspire 1 is available at https://youtu.be/LW_LngXOxRY.
Hanson is a national, employee-owned consulting firm providing engineering, planning and allied services. The firm’s corporate headquarters is located at 1525 S. Sixth St., Springfield, IL 62703. The office may be reached by phone at (217) 788-2450.
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