Effective July 1, 2016, VMLIP will provide limited liability coverage for members operating unmanned aircraft systems, commonly referred to as drones. For coverage to apply, is that the use of the drone must be in accordance with both federal and state law/regulation and must be scheduled on your VMLIP liability policy.
The Federal Aviation Administration has recently released a 624-page rulebook outlining regulations for unmanned aircraft, or drones. The new regulations allow commercial drones weighing up to 55 pounds to fly during daylight hours and lower than 400 feet in the air. This may have significant impact for local governments wishing to utilize drones for facility or bridge inspections.
A detailed memo to members regarding this coverage, current laws, and risks of drone usage, is now available for members here.