In 2014, LandBros Aerial became the first Louisiana company to be authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to fly drones. Commercial use of drones was generally illegal, but users could apply for exemptions to operate in specific airspaces.
“At the beginning we weren’t getting much traction,” LandBros co-founder Danny Landry tells Business Report in a feature from the current issue. “Nobody knew what it was.”
But if drones aren’t mainstream yet in the industrial sector, they’re well on their way.
Turner Industries, the Capital Region’s biggest industrial contractor, recently added a drone division. Louisiana now has an unmanned vehicle systems trade association. And the FAA has loosened its rules for commercial drone use, lowering the barriers to enter the business.
Danny Landry says the higher profile can only help his growing Baton Rouge-based business, noting he’s got a two-year head-start on his new competitors. His drone pilots also are licensed to fly manned aircraft, which is no longer required by law but assures plant managers they will operate safely, he adds.
Industry leaders remain concerned about safety and security. But within a few years, Landry wouldn’t be surprised to see multiple drone contractors at a single plant site, or even autonomous drones performing inspections without a pilot.
But no, he says, the machines aren’t taking over.
“We’re not taking your jobs,” Landry tells workers. “We’re making certain jobs safer.”
Turner started offering drones for inspections this summer, says David Guitreau, the company’s senior vice president. It’s a fairly small operation, including three unmanned aerial vehicle systems and two pilots—but one Turner plans to expand, he says.
Read the full story. Send your comments to editors@businessreport.com.
