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PJ Helicopters completes first utility drone inspection under sub-company PJ UAS

PJ Helicopters Press Release | January 19, 2016

Estimated reading time 3 minutes, 28 seconds.

PJ Helicopters has been granted a Section 333 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) exemption from the FAA and has used this to launch sub-company PJ UAS. PJ Helicopters Photo
On Dec. 2, 2015, PJ Helicopters completed its first commercial flight under the company’s 333 Exemption. Branded as PJ Unmanned Aerial Systems (PJ UAS), the company successfully inspected distribution power lines, as well as hydroelectric generation facilities and multiple features of both assets. 
Weather conditions of the day held intermittent light rain and winds up to five knots, neither of which impacted the flight or the flight crew, which consisted of a pilot and gimbal operator.
The PJ UAS team responded to the flight request in their UAV dispatch pod, consisting of two utility trucks housing battery packs/chargers, replacement parts, and a 32-inch, 1080p, high-definition display screen mounted on the back of the vehicles, allowing crystal-clear resolution of the drone’s gimbal camera showing the electric/hydro assets to the customer and snapping photos/video clips in real time.
“PJ UAS has been an exciting project for PJ Helicopters since we began toying with the idea in late 2014,” said PJ UAS helicopter pilot Jason Brainerd. “Coming from the rotor-side and being a helicopter pilot myself, we’re really applying our understanding of both aviation and the utility industry to conduct these operations safely and efficiently, as opposed to new-market entrants that may not fully understand the utilities needs or aviation best practices, and simply possess the technology. 
PJ UAS successfully inspected distribution power lines, as well as hydroelectric generation facilities and multiple features of both assets. PJ Helicopters Photo
“We are 100 percent committed to ensuring that safety, customer needs, and proven aviation techniques drive this business, not exciting new drone technology that detracts from CRM, SMS, etc.”
 PJ UAS will begin to increase frequency of electric-utility inspections and is also generating some interest in the oil and gas sector.
“We drafted our 333 to encompass as many applications as we could,” said project specialist Casey Tingley, the architect of the PJ UAS 333. “We have over 40 work procedures with the helicopters, so we want to bring that same adaptability/versatility to current and future UAS customers, and diversity in the 333 was the first place to start.”
PJ UAS is focused on slow and steady growth in 2016, while maintaining a full-plate of contracts and charter work in parent company PJ Helicopters and fixed-wing company PJ Air.

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