Skytec Achieves Argus Platinum Rating

By Sabrina Fawley

Skytec LLC becomes first unmanned service provider to complete an Argus Unmanned Audit.

ARGUS International, Inc. is pleased to announce Skytec, LLC as the world’s first Drone as a Service (DaaS) provider to complete an ARGUS Unmanned Audit.

The Platinum Rating is the highest ARGUS rating an organization operating unmanned aircraft can achieve. Only companies who have demonstrated successful implementation of industry best practices relative to their operations and maintenance with the utmost regard for safety through the evaluation of an on-site audit may achieve an ARGUS Platinum Rating. ARGUS collaborated with various internal and external subject matter experts with a vast amount of UAS experience to develop a comprehensive standard for the unmanned industry.

“Creating a safety culture is paramount to the commercial UAS industry. Companies like Skytec who focus on providing DaaS operations must be methodically examined and reviewed if the industry is to develop an effective safety ecosystem,” said Joe Moeggenberg, President and CEO of ARGUS International, Inc. “We are extremely pleased to announce Skytec as our first unmanned operator to successfully complete the ARGUS Unmanned Audit and earn the ARGUS Platinum Rating. As the first operator in the world to achieve this rating, Skytec has demonstrated a new level of safety for the UAS industry.”

“We are proud to become the first Platinum Rated Drone as a Service provider under the ARGUS Unmanned Standard,” said Bill Rogers, Skytec CEO. “UAS is a young, rapidly developing industry. Adhering to the highest possible safety protocols and standards –and undergoing a third-party audit to certify those practices –is a core tenet of Skytec’s mission. We believe that our industry will grow and scale even more successfully as more and more providers also commit to achieving higher safety ratings for their operations via third party certification.”

The ARGUS Unmanned Audit Standard was designed for commercial unmanned aircraft operations to evaluate their operational safety based upon a universal set of standards and industry best safety practices. To achieve the Platinum Rating, Drone as a Service providers must undergo a rigorous on-site audit including extensive evaluation of all safety practices, documentation and daily operations.

To attain an ARGUS Platinum Rating UAS operators must be a legal entity with applicable insurance, have UAS operational policies, have procedures and processes validated, have a functioning safety management system and an emergency response plan in place, undergo pilot background checks, have at least one UAS in operation, undergo an in-depth historical safety analysis, and complete an ARGUS on-site audit with no safety of flight findings. All significant finding from the on-site audit must be rectified to achieve an ARGUS Platinum Rating.

To view the ARGUS Unmanned UAS Registry with all our rated operators visit, http://argus.aero/argus-unmanned-uas-registry/.

More information: https://www.argus.aero/news_an...

About ARGUS PROS

ARGUS PROS, a wholly owned subsidiary of ARGUS International, is a worldwide leader in on-site aviation audits. Acquired by ARGUS International in 2007, ARGUS PROS is an experienced quality provider and committed in supporting and enhancing safety initiatives. To learn more visit www.argus.aero.

About Skytec, LLC

Headquartered in Chattanooga, TN, Skytec delivers leading-edge unmanned aviation and data services. With expertise in mapping, LiDAR and specialized sensors, Skytec serves a wide array of clients from the environmental, engineering, and natural resource sectors. Visit Skytecllc.com for more information.