Pipeline Operators Get Green Light to Use Drones and Satellites for Surface Inspections

The newly introduced Safety from Aerial Technology Act, or SAT Act, isn't about regulating your personal drone hobby—it’s about updating how big infrastructure keeps an eye on its assets. This specific section of the bill clears the way for pipeline owners and operators to use modern aerial tech, like unmanned aircraft systems (drones) and satellites, when the Secretary of Transportation requires them to inspect the surface conditions along their pipeline rights-of-way.

Trading Boots on the Ground for Eyes in the Sky

Think about the vast network of pipelines crisscrossing the country. Checking the surface conditions—looking for erosion, unauthorized construction, or other potential hazards that could impact the pipeline—is a massive job. Traditionally, this meant ground crews driving or walking the entire length. This bill simply modernizes the tool kit. When the Department of Transportation says it’s time for a surface inspection, operators can now deploy a drone or use satellite imagery instead of relying solely on physical patrols. For pipeline companies, this means potentially faster, more frequent, and more cost-effective inspections. For the rest of us, it means better monitoring of critical infrastructure, which is a good thing for safety and reliability.

The Fine Print: Existing Rules Still Apply

The bill makes a point of clarifying that this new allowance isn't a free pass. Just because a pipeline company can use a drone for an inspection doesn't mean they get to ignore the rules of the air. The SAT Act explicitly states that using drones or satellites for these inspections still requires full compliance with all existing laws and regulations governing the operation of those systems. In plain language: they still have to follow all the FAA rules, privacy laws, and any other regulations that apply to operating an aircraft or collecting satellite data. This is important because it ensures that while inspection methods are modernized, existing safeguards—especially concerning airspace and adjacent private property—remain in place.