PowerUp: FAA approves use of first-ever paper airplane drone
Technology
PowerUp: FAA approves use of first-ever paper airplane drone
FAA restrictions that wouldn’t allow drones to operate outside restricted airspace and below 200 feet approval have been waived for this smartphone-controlled paper airplane — also known as the PowerUp 3.0. It has a flight time of 5 to 10 minutes and a range of 180 feet, according to its maker. The company also touts the airplane drone’s success saying that the PowerUp 3.0 stands as the most successful Kickstarter campaign in the flight category. The petition for exemption for the PowerUp 3.0 was filed by Peter Sachs, a lawyer with a concentration in drone law and pilot who wants to use the paper airplane drone to take aerial videos and photos. The company says it has also been used and endorsed by NASA scientists. The FAA found that granting an exemption would be in the public’s best interest and that good cause exists, as Sachs would be using the drone for aerial data collection. To date, the FAA has approved over 1,300 drone flights from those seeking to operate unmanned vehicles in commercial airspace.
