1. Carbonix becomes the first Australian company to fly drones BVLoS, completing a mission with SA Power Networks.
2. The BVLoS mission was approved by CASA and paves the way for drone inspections of South Australia’s electricity distribution network.
3. Use of long-range drones could reduce operating costs by up to 80%, CO2 output by up to 98%, and improve response times for outages and maintenance work.
Carbonix, an Australian drone manufacturer, recently completed the first Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLoS) mission in partnership with SA Power Networks. This mission, approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), inspected 150km of powerlines in remote South Australia, paving the way for future drone inspections over the state’s electricity distribution network. SA Power Networks and Carbonix have been working together for 18 months to advance the use of long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for aerial inspections, aiming to replace crewed aircraft and ground crews.
The adoption of Carbonix drones for inspections could lead to up to an 80% reduction in operating costs and up to a 98% reduction in CO2 output, improving safety and efficiency for SA Power Networks. Drones offer quicker deployment, faster response times, and improved reliability for power supply. Carbonix CEO is excited about the partnership with SA Power Networks, seeing it as a significant milestone for the drone industry in Australia. Head of corporate affairs at SA Power Networks also emphasizes the benefits drones will bring in terms of efficiency and safety for their asset management program.
Overall, the successful BVLoS mission with Carbonix drones demonstrates the potential for long-range drone adoption in the energy industry, offering benefits in cost, environmental impact, safety, and efficiency for companies like SA Power Networks. The collaboration between Carbonix and SA Power Networks marks a significant advancement in the use of drones for aerial inspections in Australia.