Delair-Tech and RTE recently flew a civilian UAS 30 miles beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), setting a new distance record.

The flight, which used a 3G communication network to guide the UAS, was flown in France.

“In collaboration with RTE, we used for the first time in France a 3G network to guide the drone, allowing real-time communication from any distance,” says Michael Lagarde, President & Co-Founder of Delair-Tech.

“This removes an important technological barrier. It is a first step toward making drones the most common method for inspections of infrastructure that stretches over large distances, such as power lines and pipelines.”

The UAS was used to inspect RTE’s power lines, and record data that would allow RTE to build models of its European power grid.

“This first 30 miles BVLOS flight illustrates the RTE’s commitment to constant innovation that contributes to electricity that is safer, cheaper, and more respectful of the environment,” adds Patrick Bortoli, Director of Maintenance at RTE.

“More flexible to use, the UAV offers a complementary solution to helicopter inspections for network maintenance conducted by the RTE.”

Two pilots each were used for both the takeoff and landing phases of the flight. The flight was on autopilot, and the UAS was equipped with GPS data integration.

Delair-Tech and RTE were granted the right to use a specific flight corridor by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). A clear regulatory framework was also defined by the DGCA as well.