Parallel Flight Technologies Clears Major FAA Hurdle, Prepares for U.S. Commercial Takeoff

Parallel Flight Technologies, a company based in La Selva Beach, just hit a major milestone: the FAA has officially cleared it to begin commercial operations of its heavy-lift drone in the United States. The approval, granted under a federal exemption known as 49 U.S.C. §44807, means the company can now fly its unmanned aircraft system (UAS) domestically for approved commercial purposes.

This decision opens the door for Parallel Flight to move from testing and development into real-world deployment. Their aircraft is designed for serious industrial work, supporting wildfire response, carrying advanced sensor systems, and handling logistics missions that require long flight times and substantial onboard power. With FAA authorization in place, the company can now move forward with contracted projects and begin turning interested partners into active customers.

At the center of this announcement is Firefly, Parallel Flight’s NDAA-compliant Group 3 drone. Compact enough to fit in the back of a pickup truck and portable by two people, Firefly is built to do heavy-duty work. Its patented Parallel Hybrid Electric Multirotor (PHEM) propulsion system allows it to carry up to 100 pounds and fly significantly longer than traditional all-electric drones—up to ten times longer in some cases. It can also deliver 2 kilowatts of continuous power mid-flight to whatever equipment it’s carrying.

Supported by agencies like NASA, NSF, USDA, DIU, and the Office of Naval Research, Firefly represents years of testing and refinement. With this latest approval, Parallel Flight plans to begin shipping customer units this summer and scale production as demand grows. It’s a pivotal moment for a local company working to expand what drones can actually do in the field.