Part V Of A LinkedIn Series By Mike Richards
Based on Drone America’s 16 years of real-world experience in the UAS industry
Crossing the 55 lb. mark isn’t just about payload, it’s about entering a new regulatory and operational class. The FAA’s weight threshold separates hobby and light commercial systems from the more capable, more accountable world of advanced UAS operations.
At Drone America, our engineering, integration, and flight teams logged over 300 hours of system development and flight testing in partnership with the City of Reno FAA BEYOND Program. The FAA’s support and guidance were instrumental in helping us earn a Section 44807 Exemption, allowing commercial operations of our heavy-lift Yamaha FAZER SAR helicopter platform within U.S. airspace.
The FAZER SAR is more than a drone, it’s a workhorse. With a rugged airframe, over two hours of endurance (subject to payload), and multi-sensor mission capability, this uncrewed aircraft has become our flagship for safe, reliable aerial data collection at scale. Its advanced flight control systems are built with BVLOS and future autonomy in mind.
And for those who ride motorcycles, it’s the flying equivalent of a Yamaha T7: rugged, versatile, and mission ready.
When you operate in the +55 lb. category, you’re no longer just building drones. You’re building aerospace systems, and with that comes a higher bar for testing, reliability, compliance, and flight crew discipline. When your mission depends on range, payload, and data quality, lighter platforms just can’t deliver.
Operating above the 55 lb. threshold unlocks more than weight, it enables multi-sensor integration, including LiDAR, EO, IR, and hyperspectral imaging, all captured in a single pass. These systems aren’t just flying cameras, they’re aerial intelligence platforms capable of delivering high-resolution, real-time data to ground teams when it matters most.
We’ve built, tested, and flown aircraft designed for complex field environments, where endurance, stability, and sensor fidelity make the difference between raw imagery and actionable insight. If you’re working in this space, or need a partner who is, let’s connect.
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