Drones: taking to the skies with innovative technology
Our drone pilots flew more than 140,000 flights in 2022 (a 20,000 flight increase year-over-year) and conduct more than 400 drone assessments each day across our service area. These tools can be used in good weather and bad and are an integral part of our innovative technology toolkit.
With our FPLAir One fixed-wing drone and drone-in-a-box technology, we conduct efficient and cost-effective assessments of the energy grid.
Drone 101
Why drones?
With drones – a now standard industry practice – we can safely and quickly deliver high-quality photos and videos of our power lines. They minimize environmental impact and limit the need to gain access to our equipment on our customers’ properties.
A close-up view
Drones collect close-up photos of our equipment on each pole from various angles. Thermal images assess vegetation encroachment and give visibility into potential issues the human eye can’t detect.
Proactive and reactive
We perform maintenance inspections with drones to identify areas of concern before an outage occurs. In severe weather, we use these tools to assess damage in flooded or impassable areas to restore power safely and as quickly as possible.
Licensed pilots
Our licensed drone pilots comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules and regulations. All pilots carry FPL contractor photo identification badges. Drone teams display FPL-branded materials such as car magnets, safety vests and/or lawn signs during drone use.
In the know
We make every effort to notify our customers when we will be conducting drone assessments in the area. Customers will be notified by a phone call with an automated voice recording days before the assessment takes place.
Privacy and safety
We maintain the privacy of our customers in all aspects of our business. Our drones fly at relatively slow speeds, contain built-in safety features and only capture visuals of FPL power equipment, not images or video of people. We conduct safety checks and follow FAA guidelines.
Drone images captured during grid assessments
Drone News
Gallery
Our drone-in-a-box flies autonomously out of visual line of sight and along a predetermined route. Equipped with thermal cameras, it can identify changes in heat on our equipment — helping us identify any areas of concern before an outage can occur.
See how
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAA, which is the governmental body that regulates aviation in the United States, granted approval for FPL to use several specific drone models that meet the federal safety and reliability requirements. On a day-to-day basis, we use small, consumer-oriented drones that are about the size of a basketball. More recently, we have introduced drones with increased range and capabilities to monitor the energy grid, including the cutting-edge FPLAir One fixed-wing drone and drone-in-a-box technology.
The visuals are not shared outside of FPL aside from emergency situations with state and county leaders, as they were during Hurricane Ian to assist with search and rescue efforts. Review our Privacy Policy. Visit the Federal Aviation Administration.