FAA authorises ANRA to deploy BVLOS technology in New York

Airspace management solutions provider ANRA Technologies has received a letter of acceptance (LOA) from the FAA to deploy its strategic conflict detection and aggregated conformance monitoring services.

Collectively identified as strategic coordination (SC), the technology is being deployed in partnership with the New York Power Authority (NYPA). The authority, which already relies on  ANRA’s Mission Manager platform for its drone operations, will now integrate the SC technology to enable BVLOS operations for uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS).

“This is a first-of-its-kind LOA,” said Amit Ganjoo, founder and CEO of ANRA Technologies. “By using ANRA’s strategic deconfliction services, NYPA not only demonstrates its forward-thinking approach but also prepares them for the FAA’s next drone rule that will include airspace management requirements.”

ANRA’s SC leverages from the US Shared Airspace initiative, this enables NYPA’s drone activities to be integrated with other airspace users.

As part of the initiative, ANRA provides strategic coordination services to operators like the Arlington Police Department and Manna Drone Delivery. As a non-vertically integrated service provider – meaning the drone operator doesn’t have their own SC – ANRA can provide supporting SC for multi-user environments.

The LOA granted to ANRA as a UAS Service Supplier (USS) was issued under the FAA’s Near Term Approval Process (NTAP), designed to provide drone operators with expedited approvals for BVLOS operations. Recognised by ANRA as a “vital step” toward enabling BVLOS flights on a more routine basis, the NTAP streamlines the typically lengthy approval process by focusing on solutions that meet rigorous safety and operational standards. 

Other ANRA customers can also include this LOA in their waiver, exemption or COA requests for BVLOS operations where they want to use the service.