Rice Associates, Inc. Enters Drone World Through Partnership With Navigator CS, LLC
MANASSAS, VA – Rice Associates, Inc. and Navigator CS, LLC have announced the formation of a business partnership that will allow Rice Associates, Inc. to utilize Navigator’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly known as “drones” to enhance its surveying and photogrammetry capabilities. “We are excited about the possibilities that drone technology has to offer,” said Charlie Rice, President of Rice Associates, Inc. “By teaming up with Navigator CS, we will be able to safely, quickly, efficiently, and economically obtain aerial imaging that supports our surveying and mapping projects, especially in applications where the operational features of drones make them the technology of choice.”
Navigator CS, LLC’s FAA Exemption No. 11658 was granted by the FAA on May 22, 2015 via the Section 333 exemptions process. “The Conditions and Limitations imposed by the FAA on civil operators of drones widely limit the application of unmanned aircraft,” said Paul Beckwith, President of Navigator CS, LLC. “We are limited with respect to when, where, and how we can fly, so the first thing we do when meeting with prospective customers is ensure the project objectives can be met within the boundaries of our FAA exemption, our Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) and the operating features of our drones. Sometimes, due to operational restrictions, the use of drones will be impractical or will require a special COA. If the latter, we can request special authorization to fly in restricted (no fly) zones.
Rice Associates is a geospatial services firm providing in-house photogrammetry, LiDAR scanning, building information modeling, conventional surveying and subsurface utility designation and mapping. The firm was founded in 1986 (SWaM Certified #8406S) and is headquartered in Manassas, Virginia and maintains branch offices in Richmond and Virginia Beach. The firm offers a broad range of surveying and mapping services to a diverse base of public and private clients. Navigator CS, LLC is a disabled veteran-owned small business with headquarters in Leesburg, Virginia, performing engineering and management consulting services in support of the construction, real estate, property management, and information security industries. Navigator is the operator of unmanned aircraft systems equipped to conduct aerial filming and photography, which can be used to quickly create high quality GIS products.
