When one leads, the rest follow.
State Farm joins USAA in asking the federal government for approval to test drones in evaluating property damage and responding to natural disasters, writes the Chicago Sun-Times.
The Bloomington, Ill.-based company has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation, asking for two exemptions to existing rules. One would allow it to operate unmanned aircraft at a private State Farm test site in Central Illinois. A second would allow it to use them during actual catastrophes.
The company said in its 18-page applicaiton that it is particularly interested in using the drones, which would fly at altitudes no higher than 400 feet, to determine the extent of the damage to the roofs of structures, the Sun-Times reports.
Earlier this month, USAA asked the Federal Aviation Administration for permission to test drones for future claim assessments in the San Antonio area.
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