New FAA Authorization Supports NYPA’s Beyond-Visual-Line-of-Sight Drone Missions
Benjamin Shaw, CC BY-SA 4.0
ANRA Technologies announced a significant milestone with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granting it a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) to deploy its strategic drone conflict detection and conformance monitoring services. In collaboration with the New York Power Authority (NYPA), ANRA’s solution will enhance safety and efficiency for beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone operations. NYPA, already using ANRA’s Mission Manager platform, will now integrate ANRA’s strategic coordination (SC) solution, further advancing NYPA’s enterprise drone capabilities.
Supporting Critical Infrastructure
The partnership between ANRA and NYPA underscores the commitment to integrating advanced airspace management for critical infrastructure. ANRA’s SC system draws on methodologies from the U.S. Shared Airspace initiative, a program in which ANRA provides coordination services to multiple operators, including Arlington Police Department and Manna Drone Delivery. Now, as the sole non-vertically integrated provider for multi-user environments, ANRA’s services will enhance NYPA’s capacity for safe BVLOS operations.
With the LOA, ANRA serves as a UAS Service Supplier (USS) under the FAA’s Near Term Approval Process (NTAP). This expedited process provides operators like NYPA with quicker approvals for BVLOS operations, as it emphasizes solutions that adhere to strict safety and operational standards. “This is a first-of-its-kind LOA,” said Amit Ganjoo, Founder and CEO of ANRA Technologies. “By using ANRA’s strategic deconfliction services, NYPA not only demonstrates its forward-thinking approach but also prepares them for the FAA’s next drone rule that will include airspace management requirements.”
Simplifying Airspace and Mission Management
ANRA’s Mission Manager platform consolidates various functionalities such as LAANC, fleet management, and airspace services. This system provides NYPA with a streamlined, single-view interface for managing all aspects of its drone operations. By reducing the need for multiple systems, Mission Manager integrates automated mission planning, real-time tracking, and SC, giving NYPA a comprehensive view of its drone activities on one unified platform.
Advancing BVLOS Operations
The FAA’s LOA to ANRA marks a step toward routine BVLOS flights, which could revolutionize drone use across sectors. Traditionally, operators are required to maintain visual line-of-sight for drone missions. The NTAP, however, aims to expand capabilities by supporting advanced air traffic solutions, allowing more autonomous and expansive operations. ANRA’s services can now be referenced in waiver, exemption, or Certificate of Authorization (COA) applications by other operators seeking to integrate BVLOS safety measures.