RETTEW is pleased to announce that the FAA has granted an exemption for the use of the firm’s drone (Unmanned Aircraft System) for surveying and mapping purposes. Though RETTEW has owned a drone for roughly a year, the firm was not authorized to use the system commercially until the FAA granted the exemption.

Drones have been a hotly-debated topic over the last few years. Those against drones see them as a violation of their privacy, while those in favor of drones feel their rights are being jeopardized by the government restricting their use. The U.S. Government is very selective when it comes to who it allows to use drones for commercial and recreational purposes. One must register with the FAA to get an exemption for commercial use, like in RETTEW’s case. The FAA has granted only 5,114 UAS exemptions to date.

With the FAA exemption, RETTEW will now be able to use the drone for rooftop surveys, mapping of land areas, as well as inspections of bridges and pipelines. Safety is a priority at RETTEW and using drones will allow the firm to provide reliable data to clients while keeping employees out of harm’s way.

“Keeping up with the latest surveying technology allows RETTEW to build upon the services we offer and pass further cost savings onto our clients,” said Mark Lauriello, RETTEW’s President and CEO.