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I love to test drones. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to mix up my standard review cycle. But I have completely given up on testing them here. Granted, living in Queens, NY presents a unique combination of hurdles, including population density, two major international airports, and a prison – but the restrictions have made it nearly impossible to fly here.
Knowing exactly where the nearest open airspace is can be tricky, especially in large cities like New York. Today, Alphabet’s drone delivery subsidiary Wing announced the launch of its US OpenSky app on Google Play and the iOS App Store.
Image credits: Wing
The app was launched in Australia in 2019 for hobbyist and commercial drone pilots, with help from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The US version was created with the contribution of the FAA for operations in low altitude clearance and notification capability (LAANC) airspace.
Using the app, drone operators can apply for permission to operate in spaces such as those around areas, speeding up a process that would traditionally take days or weeks.
“Why is a drone delivery company investing in an operator application? Wing asks rhetorically in a blog post. “Because with nearly two million drones registered in the United States already, regulatory compliance of all drones will allow them to share the skies safely. In addition, compliance will ultimately extend the uses and benefits of drones, including emergency response, commercial inspections and contactless delivery, to more people. “
The app is available for users in the United States starting today.
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