Nationwide producer of clean energy expands drone program using FAA-approved airspace vendor, Skyward
ATLANTA, Ga. and PORTLAND, Ore. Oct. 03, 2018 - Southern Company, a leading producer of clean and affordable energy, announced that it will be expanding its drone program through a partnership with Skyward, a Verizon company advancing drone fleet management solutions and research and development. Southern Company and its affiliates were among the first energy companies to use drones across its business to aid in remote inspection, wire transport and damage recovery assessments, among other tasks.
“Southern Company is proud to build the future of energy, and deploying new technologies keeps us in the forefront of the industry. We chose Skyward because we needed a partner with roots in aviation and computer science, as well as the depth of regulatory knowledge, to improve efficiency in managing our extensive nation-wide operations,” said Dean Barefield, Southern Company UAS Program Manager. “Using Skyward, we are excited to unlock use cases for flying beyond visual line of sight and capturing the full potential of drone technology. We’ve already proven strong ROI using drones, and partnering with Skyward is the next step to furthering our leadership in the energy industry.”
As the first utility to submit a section 333 exemption, Southern Company has been employing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technology since 2015. Operating a self-dispatched model, Southern Company maintains a fleet of more than 50 aircraft and 60 remote pilots across its business units with use cases in generation, distribution, transmission and storm damage assessment and response. The Skyward platform will significantly improve UAS asset management, situational awareness and provide streamlined access to controlled airspace through the LAANC function, greatly increasing operational readiness across the Southern System. Through the partnership, Southern Company will further develop their internal command and control application as they posture for the future beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) environment.
“Southern Company is leading the energy industry in deploying state-of-the-art drone operations technology and innovating their processes. Skyward is proud to help Southern Company fly in more ways and in more places and looks forward to continuing R&D work,” said Mariah Scott, Skyward President.
Skyward provides enterprises with drone operations management software that transforms drones into a tool for improving results across the entire organization. Skyward is an FAA-approved airspace vendor, providing fast, automated access to controlled airspace through the FAA’s LAANC system, which is built into Skyward’s platform. No matter how large the operation, Skyward allows businesses to manage pilots and equipment with easy to understand global airspace intelligence, the ability to capture log flights, download reports, import data, and store each crew member’s flight experience, documentation and credentials. For more about Skyward or to request a demo, visit: www.skyward.io.
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is nationally recognized as a leading energy company, with 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput volume serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017. We operate nearly 200,000 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines and more than 80,000 miles of natural gas pipeline as of December 31, 2017. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in four states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers in 11 states across America and a nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are creating new products and services for the benefit of customers. We are building the future of energy by developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, advanced carbon capture technologies, natural gas, renewables, energy efficiency and storage technology. Southern Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, recognized among the Top 50 Companies for Diversity and the No. 1 Company for Progress by DiversityInc and designated as one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes magazine. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.
About Skyward
Skyward, A Verizon Company, is a leading drone operations management platform. The Skyward platform connects all the people, projects, and equipment involved in your drone program into one efficient workflow. Companies and fleet operators configure Skyward to meet their business requirements in order to scale faster and easily manage complex processes. To learn more about Skyward visit www.skyward.io or follow us on Twitter at @Skywardio.
Media Contacts:
Skyward
Blu Print PR
503-850-2454
Southern Company
404-506-5333
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