Cleared for Takeoff - FAA Approves Avion Solutions Inc. For Commercial UAS Operations

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Dec. 3, 2015 - PRLog -- Avion Solutions, Inc., a national defense engineering and logistics service firm located in Huntsville, Alabama, has received an exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to commercially operate small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the national airspace. With this exemption, Avion is now authorized to perform civil UAS operations to include aerial data collection services, research and development (R&D), and professional UAS training.

“We are excited about the opportunity to bring our impeccable safety, performance, and innovation record for military systems to the commercial UAS industry,” stated Chad Donald, president and CEO. “We are proud to offer capabilities ranging from payload integration to infrastructure inspection, and everything in between.”

Avion Solutions is no stranger to unmanned operations. “We have been in the aerospace engineering business for over two decades, with expertise in aviation safety and UAS airspace integration, as well as extensive support of Manned/Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) operations for the U.S. Army,” said Donald. “Our experience in Interactive Multimedia Instruction and training development will help to position Avion as a leader in professional UAS training programs for medium and large organizations.”

The exemption was granted pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. This act authorizes the FAA to grant exemptions from FAA regulations limiting commercial operation of Unmanned Aerial Systems pending the adoption of permanent regulations, expected to be released next year. In the midst of UAS misuse and privacy concerns, Avion is focused on safe, FAA Compliant UAS Operations in the national airspace. Utilizing FAA certificated pilots, Avion’s Commercial UAS team is capable of performing UAS missions for Search and Rescue, Structural Inspections, and Aerial Data Collection. FAA compliant operators, such as Avion Solutions, reduce the risk of UAS-related incidents and operate at a significantly lower cost than similar manned aircraft operations.

With so many markets now researching different use cases for drones, Avion is in a unique position to help companies realize the potential that this technology can offer. “People don’t need drones, they need solutions,” says Steve Cope, Director of Business Development for the firm. “Commercial off-the-shelf technology exists. It can reduce costs and may deliver results, but a well-equipped, well-trained workforce will always provide an exponential return on investment. Avion’s unmanned commercial solutions will bridge the gap between the military-grade UAS and the consumer drone, providing companies with the equipment, training, and expertise needed to collect actionable data specific to their market.”

Partnering with organizations like the Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE) and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Avion is committed to advancing the FAA’s goal of safely integrating UAS into the National Airspace System by helping organizations understand and mitigate the risks involved.

Taylor Abington, the company’s project lead stated, “As an aerospace organization, we have a responsibility to ensure that commercial UAS operators understand the rapidly-changing regulatory environment, as well as the safety aspects of operating unmanned aircraft in the national airspace. As more civil operations begin to leverage this technology, our intent is to set an industry standard for others to follow in keeping UAS operations legal and safe. Whether it is through comprehensive UAS training, providing UAS services to clients, rapid prototyping, systems integration, or participation in community events, Avion’s commitment to safety and quality will reflect our military and aerospace history.”

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About Avion Solutions:

Avion Solutions, Inc. is a certified small employee-owned business that provides engineering, logistics, software engineering, and test & evaluation services. Avion provides programmatic support for all of the Army’s Program Executive Office (PEO) for Aviation, to include rotary wing, fixed wing, and unmanned aircraft project offices. As an ISO 9001:2008 certified company headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, Avion specializes in material solutions and technical support for military-grade projects. They have been providing these solutions to military and Department of Defense customers and commercial clients for over 20 years. Their broad range of technical expertise includes data analysis, software and biometrics, energy efficiency, and the development of a full spectrum of training solutions ranging from on-site classroom training to interactive multimedia instruction (IMI) programs. Avion is a privately held company with an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) owning 49%, promoting long-term corporate ownership continuity and commitment to the company. For more information on Avion, please visit www.AvionSolutions.com or interact with us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AvionSolutions), Twitter (www.twitter.com/AvionSolutions), and LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/avion-solutions-inc).