State Farm® to Conduct Drone Damage Assessment Flights Following Hurricane Michael
Source: State Farm 10-16 Press Release
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted State Farm a waiver that allows drone pilots for the insurer to conduct damage assessment flights following Hurricane Michael. The FAA waiver specifically allows State Farm to fly drones beyond visual line of sight and fly over groups of people in the states of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. All drone flights will be associated with damage assessment for Hurricane Michael.
In addition to the operational capabilities granted by these FAA waivers, State Farm will continue to utilize drone technology as a tool for our claim representatives to assist in individual inspections of our customers’ homes and properties related to these hurricanes.
It was less than one month ago when Hurricane Florence struck North and South Carolina. State Farm was the first and only insurance company to receive an FAA waiver allowing Claims pilots to operate drones beyond visual line of sight and over people for damage assessment. Drone flights were coordinated with the FAA and Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) at Virginia Tech as part of the Integration Pilot Program for large-scale damage assessment in Virginia and South Carolina.
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