Draganfly Secures FAA Waiver for Drone Operations Over People and Moving Vehicles

Rhea-AI Summary

Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) has secured a significant Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) waiver allowing its drones to operate over people and moving vehicles in Boston. The waiver, granted under 14 CFR §§ 107.39 and 107.145, permits operations beyond standard FAA Part 107 regulations along a prescribed flight route in Boston's urban environment.

The approval enables two key operations: flights over non-participating individuals and operations over moving traffic, important for urban deployment scenarios. This regulatory achievement positions Draganfly to expand its drone operations in complex urban settings for applications including public safety, infrastructure inspection, and specialized mission support.

The company's systems feature advanced airspace management capabilities and precision controls to maintain compliance with FAA safety standards. This milestone reinforces Draganfly's status as an innovator in the UAV industry and demonstrates its readiness to meet evolving defense, government, and commercial partner needs.

Positive

• Secured rare FAA waiver for operations over people and vehicles in urban environment
• Expanded operational capabilities in densely populated areas
• Enhanced ability to serve defense, government, and commercial markets
• Positioned for growth in urban drone applications

Negative

• None.

Insights

Regulatory and Technology Analyst

The FAA waiver secured by Draganfly for operations over people and moving vehicles in Boston represents a rare and valuable regulatory achievement that could significantly expand the company's commercial opportunities. Such waivers are exceptionally difficult to obtain, with less than 1% of drone operators having similar authorizations for complex urban environments.

This waiver creates substantial competitive advantages in several high-value markets:

• Infrastructure inspection contracts, particularly for bridges and buildings where operations over traffic are essential
• Public safety and emergency response missions requiring immediate urban access
• Surveying and mapping projects in densely populated areas
• Last-mile delivery testing and development

The technical requirements for such a waiver typically include redundant safety systems, proven reliability data and sophisticated autonomous navigation capabilities. This suggests Draganfly's technology platform has achieved a high level of maturity and safety compliance that could accelerate additional waiver approvals in other jurisdictions.

While the immediate revenue impact may be modest given the geographic limitations to Boston, this waiver establishes a critical regulatory precedent that could streamline future authorizations for urban operations. For a micro-cap company with a market cap of just $15.6M, this development significantly enhances their competitive positioning in the enterprise and government drone services market.

Rare Urban Environment FAA Waiver Granted to Draganfly for Prescribed Flight Route Over Boston

Saskatoon, SK, Jan. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO) (FSE: 3U8) ‎‎(“Draganfly” or the “Company”), a leader in drone technology and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) solutions, an industry-leading drone solutions and systems provider, announced today that it has secured a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) waiver enabling its small unmanned aircraft (sUA) to conduct operations over human beings and moving vehicles. This waiver marks a significant milestone for Draganfly and highlights its commitment to advancing the capabilities of UAV operations in complex urban environments.

The waiver, granted under 14 CFR §§ 107.39—Operations over human beings and 107.145—Operations over moving vehicles, allows Draganfly to conduct flights beyond the standard operational restrictions of FAA Part 107 regulations. The permissions cover a prescribed flight route over the city of Boston, emphasizing safety and reliability while operating within challenging and densely populated urban settings.

“Securing this FAA waiver underscores the trust and confidence we have built with regulatory authorities and reflects the safety and strength of our UAV platforms,” said Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly Inc. “This achievement allows us to deploy drones for critical applications in urban environments, including public safety, infrastructure inspection, and specialized mission support.”

The waiver permits the following operations:

• Operations over human beings: Allowing flights over individuals who are not direct participants in the UAV operation.
• Operations over moving vehicles: Enabling UAV operations over moving traffic, which is critical for urban deployment scenarios.

These regulatory exemptions reinforce Draganfly’s position as an innovator in the UAV space and showcase its readiness to meet the evolving needs of its defense, government, and commercial partners.

“This waiver is not only a regulatory achievement but a significant step forward in scaling drone operations in the urban landscape,” said Coty Vann, UAS Programs Director and lead project manager for the Boston project. “We are proud to pioneer UAV missions that make meaningful contributions to industries and communities alike.”

The FAA waiver reinforces Draganfly’s commitment to ensuring operational safety while pushing the boundaries of UAV applications. The company’s drone systems are equipped with advanced airspace management capabilities and precision controls, enabling compliance with the stringent safety standards set forth by the FAA.

This milestone positions Draganfly to lead the drone industry into a future where UAVs are seamlessly integrated into urban environments. As regulations evolve and the demand for UAV solutions continues to grow, Draganfly is poised to deliver innovative, reliable, and scalable systems that redefine the role of drones across multiple sectors.

About Draganfly

Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO; CSE: DPRO; FSE: 3U8) is the creator of quality, cutting-edge drone solutions, software, and AI systems that revolutionize how organizations ‌do business and service their stakeholders. Recognized as being at the forefront of technology for over 24 years, Draganfly is an award-winning industry leader serving the public safety, agriculture, industrial inspections, security, mapping, and surveying markets. Draganfly is a company driven by passion, ingenuity, and the need to provide efficient solutions and first-class services to its customers around the world with the goal of saving time, money, and lives.

For more information on Draganfly, please visit us at www.draganfly.com. For additional investor information, visit:

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Media Contact
Erika Racicot
Email: media@draganfly.com

Company Contact
Email: info@draganfly.com

FAQ

What type of FAA waiver did Draganfly (DPRO) receive in January 2024?

Draganfly received an FAA waiver under 14 CFR §§ 107.39 and 107.145, allowing drone operations over people and moving vehicles in Boston.

What specific operations does DPRO's new FAA waiver permit?

The waiver permits two key operations: flights over non-participating individuals and operations over moving traffic along a prescribed route in Boston.

How will the FAA waiver impact Draganfly's (DPRO) business operations?

The waiver enables Draganfly to expand its urban drone operations for public safety, infrastructure inspection, and specialized mission support applications.

Where can Draganfly (DPRO) operate its drones under the new FAA waiver?

The waiver specifically covers a prescribed flight route over the city of Boston, allowing operations in densely populated urban settings.

What makes DPRO's FAA waiver significant for the drone industry?

The waiver is rare for urban environments and demonstrates the ability to operate drones safely in complex, populated areas, marking a significant advancement for urban drone integration.