IN-FLIGHT Awarded Three Guinness World Records Supported by senseFly

IN-FLIGHT Data, a Canadian commercial drone operator, has been awarded three Guinness World Records for drone (UAS) flights carried out as part of a beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) project with help from senseFly, a provider of fixed-wing drone solutions.

The three world records achieved were for:

• Longest cumulative beyond-visual-line-of-sight battery-powered UAV flight: 2,723.04km (Alberta)
• Longest cumulative urban flight for a beyond-visual-line-of-sight civilian UAV (small class – up to 25kg): 414 km (Calgary)
• Longest single urban flight for a beyond-visual-line-of-sight civilian UAV (small class – up to 25kg): 40km (High River)

The Guinness World Records were awarded specifically for BVLOS flights conducted in Calgary, Alberta, which saw the city commission IN-FLIGHT Data to collect mapping data for the development of Calgary’s first new cemetery since 1940. This resulted in IN-FLIGHT Data completing North America’s first urban BVLOS drone project in a major urban area. Using a senseFly eBee Plus fixed-wing drone, IN-FLIGHT Data successfully conducted a total of 414km (257m) BVLOS flight, at an average distance of 2.35km (1.46m) from the pilot.

“The success of this ground-breaking project was a real milestone for us and the wider UAS industry, and we are over the moon to now become Guinness World Record holders,” said Chris Healy, owner of IN-FLIGHT Data. “Not only did we demonstrate that BVLOS operations can be carried out in urban environments, thanks to the senseFly drones and the other airspace intelligence technologies built into their eMotion software that made it possible, we were also able to show that BVLOS is a safe, efficient and cost-effective tool that has the potential to revolutionize both rural and urban commercial drone operations.”

“As one of the first-ever BVLOS UAS operations to take place inside a built-up, densely populated city environment, the learnings and insights that Chris and his team have gained from this project will prove invaluable in helping shape the future of Canadian BVLOS regulations,” added senseFly CEO Gilles Labossière.

In addition to helping IN-FLIGHT Data’s team navigate challenging ground access restrictions at the site, BVLOS operations also helped reduce the environmental impact of the cemetery project, ensuring there was minimal disruption to local wildlife. Following the project’s completion, the data was delivered to Calgary and is currently being used to support the development of the new graveyard site. It will also help drive future innovation in High River and the city of Calgary as a whole.