Forensic investigation firm Donan received its second FAA exemption for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (also known as drones) and joins an elite group of insurance carriers like State Farm, USAA and AIG with the distinction. The exemption applies to its fleet of fixed-wing multirotor UAVs, which can be used for engineering and fire investigation inspections. The company received another exemption in May 2015 for its fixed-wing Sensefly eBee.

The exemptions will allow Donan to gather data over large areas with its fixed-wing drones or use the multirotor drones for single property investigations where it can capture small details like hail strikes on a structure. The quadcopters move similarly to a helicopter, are extremely maneuverable and can hover in place to capture high definition video and images. They also will be equipped with infrared cameras for thermal imaging.

"This technology enables us to capture better images, process data in more valuable ways, and do it all faster and more safely," says Lyle Donan, president and CEO of Donan.

The FAA is granting exemptions on a case-by-case basis until it releases its final regulations for drone use. The exemptions also outline safety guidelines and protocols that the companies are required to follow.

"All of the exemptions granted by the FAA come with restrictions related to where UAVs can be flown and require that the operator be a licensed pilot," says Duane Battcher, Donan's managing director. "Donan is fully prepared to utilize this technology within those limits and we're looking forward to being a resource for clients so they can determine how to best put this technology to use."

Since receiving its initial exemption, Donan has used the technology to provide aerial photographs as part of an explosion investigation that analyzes damage and identifies the scope of the debris field. 

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