Background
How Shell, PAU, and Event 38 Came Together
In 2023, Shell Pipeline Corporation introduced Event 38 to Phoenix Air Unmanned (PAU), a drone service provider specializing in aerial inspection and surveillance for utilities. PAU engaged Event 38 for a proof-of-concept demo of the E455 — Event 38's largest fixed-wing VTOL drone. The goal: integrate the E455 with PAU's command stations and conduct a full BVLOS inspection of Shell's pipelines in Louisiana.
The E455 was added to PAU's existing BVLOS waiver for the purposes of the demo. PAU's nationwide waiver allows unmanned aircraft to fly over critical infrastructure — including 250 feet above grounded pipelines and 100 feet above transmission lines — across the country.
Training — October 2024, Georgia
Six Pilots. Three Days. Independent Operations.
Event 38 traveled to Georgia to train six PAU pilots on the E455. Within three days, the Phoenix team was operating the drone independently — a testament to the user-friendly design of the platform. Mathew Wright, Event 38's VP of Engineering and Operations, spent two additional days working alongside the team to integrate the E455 into PAU's existing control station infrastructure, including their fleet of ground control vans, connectivity systems, and airspace surveillance equipment.
The Demo
330 Miles. Two Days. Mission Accomplished.
The following week, PAU conducted the full proof-of-concept in Louisiana. Drone communications were handed off between three ground control vans to extend range and increase efficiency, while ground control received a constant live video feed from the E455's onboard cameras throughout.
A two-hour fog delay pushed the 300-mile goal into a second day — but the mission was accomplished within a single day of flying time, exactly as planned.
330
Miles Flown
7.6
Flight Hours
3
Ground Control Vans
"We have over 16,000 miles of powerline inspection experience and dedicated infrastructure to support that operation. It was pretty awesome for us to be able to reach out to Mat, tap into his expertise and his team's real experience with the system, and integrate the E455 into our existing infrastructure."
William Wheeler
Director of Operations, Phoenix Air Unmanned
"The goal was to fly 300 miles in a single day. Unfortunately, we woke up to a two-hour delay with fog. We crossed the 300-mile mark at noon on the second day. But our goal was achieved within a day of flying time, so it was a success."
William Wheeler
Director of Operations, Phoenix Air Unmanned
"This demo was an excellent opportunity for us to learn more about how the E455 operates in real-world scenarios. We were able to make some other modifications that will translate to a better user experience going forward."
Mathew Wright
VP of Engineering and Operations, Event 38
Mission Overview
Aircraft
Event 38 E455
Customer
Phoenix Air Unmanned
End Client
Shell Pipeline Corp.
Location
Louisiana, USA
Date
October 2024
Application
BVLOS Pipeline Inspection
