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EnglishWhat Is EDM International's BVLOS Approval for UAS Operations?
Updated
EDM International, Inc. has received FAA approval to conduct beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) UAS operations, according to the company's website. BVLOS means a drone can fly beyond the direct unaided sight of its remote pilot — the standard rule for most commercial drone flights requires the pilot (or a trained visual observer) to keep the aircraft in view at all times. This approval matters because it removes that line-of-sight constraint, which is the main limiting factor for using drones to inspect long, linear utility infrastructure such as transmission lines and rights-of-way.
What BVLOS actually changes
Under visual line of sight (VLOS) rules, a drone inspection crew can only cover as far as they can see the aircraft — typically a few hundred meters, depending on terrain and aircraft size. To inspect a long transmission corridor, crews must leapfrog along the route, repositioning repeatedly. BVLOS approval allows the aircraft to fly farther from the pilot, so a single flight can cover more ground and follow the asset rather than the pilot's position.
The practical effects for utility work generally include:
- Longer inspection corridors per flight — fewer takeoff/landing cycles and crew relocations along a line.
- Access to remote or difficult terrain — sections where positioning a visual observer is impractical or unsafe.
- More consistent data capture — one continuous pass instead of stitched segments from multiple short flights.
Why it fits EDM International's business
EDM International describes itself as a team of engineers, scientists, technologists, and business professionals serving the utility industry since 1982, headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, with offices in Denver, San Diego, and Phoenix. Its service list includes UAS services alongside engineering and design, asset management, environmental services, GIS and geospatial analysis, wildfire mitigation, vegetation management, and construction oversight.
That combination is relevant because BVLOS is most valuable when it feeds a larger workflow. A drone flight over a transmission line produces imagery and positional data; asset management and GIS teams then use that data to assess pole and conductor condition, identify vegetation encroachment, or flag fire risk. EDM International's own product line points in the same direction — it includes PhaseTrakker for phase identification, pole damage analysis software, and FPIQ®, a Fire Potential Index tool. BVLOS inspection data can feed these kinds of asset and risk assessments rather than standing alone.
The wildfire mitigation connection is also direct: the company's environmental team has produced short films on avian collision and avian electrocution with power infrastructure, showing an ongoing focus on the environmental and risk side of utility operations. Longer-range aerial surveys support both infrastructure condition monitoring and environmental review over the same corridors.
What the approval does and does not tell you
The website confirms the FAA approval and frames it as enabling beyond visual line of sight UAS operations. It does not publish the specific operating limitations, aircraft types, geographic scope, or altitude and airspace conditions attached to that approval. If you are evaluating EDM International as a vendor, those details are the ones to request directly — an FAA BVLOS authorization is typically issued with conditions, and the conditions determine what work can actually be flown.
A reasonable way to frame questions:
| What to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Geographic and airspace scope of the approval | Determines whether your assets fall inside the authorized area |
| Aircraft and sensor payloads covered | Determines whether the data meets your inspection requirements |
| Whether flights are conducted under Part 107 waivers or a different framework | Affects scheduling, notice, and coordination with local air traffic |
| How BVLOS data integrates with asset management and GIS deliverables | Determines whether you get raw imagery or decision-ready outputs |
Bottom line
EDM International's BVLOS approval means the company can fly utility inspection drones beyond the pilot's visual range under FAA authorization — a capability that suits long linear assets like transmission lines and remote corridors better than conventional line-of-sight operations. The website confirms the approval exists and ties it to the company's broader UAS, asset management, GIS, and wildfire mitigation services, but it does not disclose the operating conditions. Treat the approval as a capability signal and verify the specific terms before scoping a project.