The inspections they would be used for, I would assume, would mostly be things like assessing damage or inspections.
The issue I have is that to properly do these inspections you require (preferably) dry, non windy conditions and
'He added that it is safer to have drones working at height than humans having to go up on a rig'
I would argue this. It's not safer, it's cheaper. If I'm doing a crown inspection it's not an unsafe task assuming I have the correct safety equipment and PPE. I fail to see how a drone flying around the aircraft magically makes it safer, considering they are, as mentioned, susceptible to wind gusts (hence could fly into the structure) and I assume have to be operated by a human, who would need to control them and all the associated chances of accidents related to that.
To be honest whilst the technology is great, it's in its early stages and whilst they could map damage, the chances are they couldn't be used in the conditions they are needed to be used in (ramp conditions) and I bet they aren't cheap !
Or maybe I'm just bias being a human.
Safe flying
Tech_Log