WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration is allowing four companies to use drones for commercial purposes, the agency said Wednesday.

The companies want to fly drones for aerial surveying, construction-site monitoring and oil-rig inspections, according to the FAA.

Amazon.com Inc. which has said it may move more drone research outside of the U.S. due to strict regulations, wasn't one of the companies.

The firms that won approval:

  1. Trimble Navigation Ltd.
  2. VDOS Global LLC
  3. Clayco Inc.
  4. Woolpert Inc.