Yes. With the right aircraft and operating approvals, drones can patrol hundreds of miles of pipeline and can be deployed at the scale traditionally associated with manned fixed-wing aircraft. The important caveat is that not every drone can do it….
Using Drones for PHMSA Pipeline Patrols and Leak Detection
TL;DR: Federal pipeline regulations require patrol and leak detection programs but don’t mandate a specific aircraft type. PHMSA has confirmed drones are acceptable under 49 CFR § 192.705 and § 195.412. A properly designed drone program doesn’t just document that a…