“American International Group, Inc. (AIG) today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved AIG’s request to operate small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to conduct inspections for risk assessment, risk management, loss control, and surety performance for customers in the US,” the AIG statement read.
AIG’s go ahead from the FAA follows the US aviation agency also approving US online shopping giant Amazon in March 2015, to conduct drone test flights outdoors after the online retailer announced its plans for a drone delivery service in the future.
“Leveraging cutting edge technologies like UAVs can enhance our ability to assess and mitigate risks to better help our customers and their communities prepare for and rebuild after a catastrophic event,” Executive Vice President for Claims and Operations at AIG Eric Martinez said in the company’s statement.
Meanwhile, AIG has already began UAV research and development abroad, and has conducted test flights in New Zealand, according to the company.
Unregulated commercial and private drone flights have resulted in a number of close calls near airports and other facilities, raising safety and security concerns about their unregulated use. Privacy and civil liberties groups have also expressed concerns that drones could be used to infringe on citizens’ rights.
