SHOWCASE : AVIATION UNIT
The Aviation Unit provides aerial support for operational incidents , criminal and traffic investigations , large scale events in the City ’ s Entertainment District , and more . The team , which has increased from 19 to 35 personnel in the last year , flies Unmanned Aircraft Systems ( UAS ), more commonly known as drones . This is a collateral duty assignment , meaning all of the team members have additional primary roles as police officers within the department .
As the program advances , integration into the public safety workspace has proved to be a valuable asset . In 2022 , the unit logged 447 deployments . Compared to 2017 , this is a 3,963 % increase . Compared to 2021 , our missions have increased by 43 %. The Aviation Unit logged 234 apprehensions in 2022 . Continued use of drones has proven to be a valuable de-escalation tool that can keep both our community and police officers safe .
It is also a great value to taxpayers . A drone costs approximately $ 15,000 , while an outfitted police helicopter costs approximately $ 3.5 million . A helicopter costs approximately $ 650 per flight hour to operate , while a drone costs approximately $ 190 per hour .
In 2022 , the department took possession of the UAS Command Vehicle . This has revolutionized our UAS support capability . The $ 273,000 resource was funded by a federal grant . It has had 135 deployments . Professionalism and innovation continue to be a priority for our program .
• In 2022 , the unit formalized a 40-hour TCOLE accredited flight school . To our knowledge , we are the first municipality in Texas to achieve this .
• We were represented at the 2022 Global Unmanned Tactical Application Conference in Perry , Georgia , and returned with The Gunderson Award recognizing significant advancements in public safety UAS operations .
• Four pilots attended New Mexico Tech / DART Counter training in Playas , New Mexico . This was secured through EMRTC Grant Funding . This accomplishment was approximately a $ 10,000 benefit at no cost to our department .
• Agency representation at the Texas DPS Robotics Conference held in Burnett , Texas .
• Representation as FAA FAAST Safety Team ( Drone Pro ) and FCC licensed radio technician . Our Aviation Unit conducted a 32-hour flight school for the Arlington Fire Department .
Upon completion , this allows the fire department to operate under the city ’ s FAA issued Certificate of Authorization . This served as a catalyst for a parentship that offers unmanned solutions for fire emergencies . Applications include structure and ground fires , technical rescue , water rescue , hazardous materials , and arson investigations .
The Aviation Unit also conducts extensive public outreach that includes career days with both public and private schools in an effort to foster legitimacy and public trust .
20 | 2022 Annual Report