Case Study: Sky-Futures achieves FAA Section 333 approval to launch US commercial drone operations with Skyward

Sky-Futures - Customer Case Study

Sky‑Futures, a commercial drone inspection company, pursued an FAA Section 333 exemption to operate in US national airspace. After nearly 200 days navigating a patient, often cumbersome regulatory process that required a detailed operations manual and aviation expertise, the company faced the challenge of getting to market while meeting evolving safety and compliance expectations.

By partnering with the Small UAV Coalition and Skyward to craft a strong petition and operational framework and engaging constructively with the FAA, Sky‑Futures secured one of the early Section 333 exemptions. The approval lets Sky‑Futures USA begin drone inspections in the US oil and gas market, drive investment and job creation, reduce costs and improve efficiency, and—most importantly—enhance safety while continuing to help shape industry best practices.

Sky-Futures

Nick Rogers

Training and Legislation Director