Parrot

Regulatory Filings • Feb 10, 2017

Press Release For immediate distribution

senseFly receives first Swiss approval for anytime BVLOS operations

Cheseaux-Lausanne, Switzerland, 10 February 2017 – senseFly has become the first drone operator to be granted anytime Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) authorisation in Switzerland. The country's Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) has granted senseFly permission to fly any of its eBee-branded mapping solutions beyond the visual sight of a drone's operator, using observers, without the need to set-up a flight operation 'Danger Area' beforehand.

"This country-wide, anytime BVLOS authorisation is a first for Switzerland and we are delighted to be working closely with FOCA to pioneer this kind of flexible, extended use," said Jean-Christophe Zufferey, senseFly's CEO. "While this permission is valid only for senseFly, it opens the door for our Swiss eBee customers to apply for, and enjoy, similarly flexible flight conditions. This will, in turn, allow them to grow their businesses by taking on larger, more complex projects."

senseFly's BVLOS approval has been granted under strict specific conditions. These include the company's eBee drones being operated at a maximum flight height of 500 feet above ground level (or 1,000 feet over urban areas) and the use of visual observers. These observers must each monitor a section of airspace—with a radius of 2 kilometres—for other aircraft. They must also be able to communicate instantly with the drone's operator in the case of any potential issues.

"At senseFly, we are committed to bringing solutions to market that facilitate the seamless and safe cohabitation of drones and manned aircraft," Zufferey added. "This is why we launched our Safer Together initiative with Air Navigation Pro. It is also why we will be collaborating closely with JARUS on our BVLOS findings and experiences, in order for that group to help the EASA develop the most valuable BVLOS Standard Scenario for future European use."

Globally, senseFly is not the first eBee operator to be granted approval for such extended use. Numerous senseFly customers are able to operate under similar conditions, such as ATEC-3D in England and France's leading agricultural operator, AIRINOV.

In late 2016, senseFly's eBee mapping drone was verified as 'harmless' by the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC), enabling Italian eBee owners to operate their aircraft much more flexibly, including flying over urban areas, without needing specific authorisation for each operation.

Press Contacts: Jessica Sader Marketing & Events Coordinator, senseFly Tel: +1 (202) 450 1511 Email: Jessica.sader@sensefly.com

Matt Wade Marketing Director, senseFly Mobile: +41 (0) 79 853 0412 Email: Matthew.wade@sensefly.com

About senseFly

At senseFly, we believe in using technology to make work safer and more efficient. Our proven drone solutions simplify the collection and analysis of geospatial data, allowing professionals in surveying, agriculture, engineering and humanitarian aid to make better decisions, faster. senseFly was founded in 2009 and quickly became the leader in mapping drones. The company is a commercial drone subsidiary of Parrot Group. For more information, go to www.sensefly.com.