eBee X Approved for Operations Over People by Transport Canada

senseFly, the Switzerland-based fixed-wing UAV manufacturer, has announced that its flagship eBee X fixed-wing drone was approved for operations over people by Transport Canada, as defined by the regulatory body’s standard 922.06 Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) safety assurance designation. The designation is part of Transport Canada’s self-declaration process, which provides a path for drone manufacturers to self-declare the operational safety of their drones, provided the aircraft meets a series of strict requirements.

To operate safely over people is an important milestone for the senseFly eBee X, and the news will be welcomed by drone pilots and operators in Canada as well.

Operations Over People (OOP) is also a fundamental requirement for professionals looking to expand their mapping capabilities with Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) mapping missions, of which the eBee X is capable of flying. The eBee X joins the eBee Plus. the eBee SQ and eBee Classic in satisfying the requirements outlined by Transport Canada, making it legal for drone operators to fly and operate the drones safely over people.

“The senseFly name is synonymous with efficient fixed-wing drones, but it’s quickly becoming synonymous with safety, too,” said Gilles Labossière, CEO of senseFly. “Whether you’re using it to corridor map an oil pipeline or surveying a mine site or for precision agriculture, the eBee X was designed to deliver accurate results while adhering to the strictest safety standards.”

The senseFly eBee X received Transport Canada’s safety designation by meeting the following criteria:

Protections against injury to persons on the ground

• No single failure of the RPAS may result in a severe injury to a person on the ground within 5 m horizontal of the RPA in operation.
• The occurrence of any combination of failures of the RPAS which may result in a severe injury to a person on the ground within 5 m horizontal of the RPA in operation must be shown to be remote.

Warning and alerts

• Systems, controls, and associated monitoring and warning means must be designed to minimize RPAS pilot errors that could create additional hazards.

"senseFly is pleased to receive its latest designation from Transport Canada and will continue its position at the vanguard of the fixed-wing drone industry with end-to-end drone solutions that meet the exacting requirements of drone operators."