Taking to the skies with Arnive

Meet Arnive

Through using different tools and technologies, our engineering team is determined to help companies and communities bring their visions to life. The recent accomplishment of Arnive Blanchard is a testament to that commitment. Along with providing many services, Arnive has joined his fellow engineering team members in earning his FAA Pilot License.

Read below to learn more about his accomplishment and how drones benefit economic development.

For those that don't know, what's the name of the license you've earned?

Arnive: I have earned the Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.

What's the importance of this license?

Arnive: With this license you’re able to fly drones for commercial purposes.

What inspired you to pursue your FAA pilot license?

Arnive: I decided to pursue my license because it’s important for our team of engineers to go out and drone each site. This license allows us to use drones for an official capacity for Georgia Power.

Could you tell us a little about the license program?

Arnive: First you must study the official rules from the FAA. I used an app to help me prepare and took an official course from DroneDeploy. After my preparation, I took the exam. To pass and receive your license, you must score a 70 or higher. The certificate is valid for 24 months; afterward, pilots must pass a recurrent knowledge test to maintain their certification.

How is using drones beneficial in economic development?

Arnive: Drones are a game changer for economic development. It helps us look at each site and store it in our database to share information with companies that may be unfamiliar with Georgia or want a more in-depth look of a site compared to a satellite view. Being able to see and interact with the site helps us make quicker decisions, which is key for economic development.

Do you have a favorite drone you've flown so far?

Arnive: The Wingtra One is the most impressive drones I've flown. With its capabilities for high-precision mapping and the ability to create 3D models from the imagery, I'm impressed with the accurate measurements that you can gain from using the LiDAR sensors. Additionally, with its multispectral cameras, it really makes what we do stand out as one of the best in the business.

And lastly, what are you most looking forward to doing now that you've earned your license?

Arnive: Something I have had in mind ever since I came to economic development, is to be able to have every single site in our database cataloged. Though we have over 600 sites and it's a tough task, I believe that that we will be able to cover way more now that I have my license. This is one way we can stand out from others, by providing a service that most people are not able to provide. Overall, I am looking forward to improving our existing products like the Site Selector and others.

Ready to make your site selection soar?

Whether visiting sites in Georgia for the first time, or expanding your existing business, Georgia Power's economic development team can help you with the information you need to make a location decision.

Learn more about our services and approach.