The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | May 2023
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approved in a record time of two weeks . Trending shows the key elements for the DFR waiver are the defined operational area , flying less than 400 feet above ground level , adhering to facility grid map ceilings , maintaining a two-mile visibility around the drone , and a CONOPS that covers these and other safety-related requirements . Anything beyond these conditions requires a Special Government Interest waiver from the FAA ’ s System Operations Support Center .
The Droneresponders . org working group has been working on a new initiative with the FAA on the development of a DFR guidance document that will expedite approval of public safety DFR waivers .
In a very recent initiative , the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department ’ s Steven Oscar has developed facility grid maps that determine where drones can fly around airports . These maps are created and maintained by the airports . As you might imagine , airports initially created maps that were ultraconservative , and many created maps that prevented the flight of drones in these grids . LVMPD reached out to its nearby airports , including Harry Reid Airport , and had great success in crafting maps that enabled public safety drone flight in grids where they were previously prohibited . So for agencies operating under COAs , custom public safety grids with approval from the airports can be submitted for FAA approval .
A Paradigm Shift in Operations There is a paradigm shift occurring in law enforcement as drones become a critical element in almost every aspect of emergency operations . Drones enhance safety and provide improved operational effectiveness and real-time situational awareness . Presently , according to Droneresponders . org research , more than 5,000 public safety agencies have implemented drone programs , and an estimated two-thirds are law enforcement agencies . With today ’ s law enforcement staff shortages and dangerous attacks on LEOs , drones are an essential tool to protect those who serve and protect us .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Chief Charles Werner is a 47-year veteran of public safety . He served 37 years with the Charlottesville ( Virginia ) Fire Department , retiring as Fire Chief . During his career , he served two years as a reserve deputy with the Albermarle County Sheriff ’ s Office . Charles presently serves as director of Droneresponders Public Safety Alliance , is a member of the International Public Safety Association ’ s UAS Committee , is chair of the Virginia Secure Commonwealth UAS Sub Panel , is an FAA-certified remote pilot , and is a member of the IACP Aviation Committee and APSA . Charles was recognized as Homeland Security Today Magazine ’ s Person of the Year in 2019 for his work on public safety drone programs . 12