Lessons Learned From Flying Law Enforcement Drones

1. It is a lot of work

Very few agencies will have a standalone UAS division. Most will consist of officers from a wide range of assignments, specially trained to be a UAS pilot. This may even include the Chief Pilot who has a primary position, and has had the responsibilities of the UAS unit added to their day to day work.

The requirements for a well run UAS unit is very similar to that of a full time manned aviation unit. When possible, try to spread the work out amongst the unit members so that no one member is inundated or overwhelmed with responsibility.

2. Learn to like paperwork

Mission reports, maintenance reports, crash reports and investigations, training documentation, policy, directives, monthly inspection reports and monthly operations reports to administration. A public safety agency runs on paperwork and documentation. A well written policy will provide guidance on what and when documentation is required.

3. Selecting your pilots

Pilot selection is an item that requires careful consideration. Safely operating a UAS in the public safety environment requires good judgement, technical knowledge, and hand eye coordination. Always take advantage of anyone that has any manned or R/C aviation experience, but this can be a rare skill set to find in agencies that do not have a manned aviation program.

Most agencies use seniority when selecting applicants for specialized units. With UAS being a relatively new technology, it can be an excellent opportunity to look at your younger officers who have been raised in a technological environment.

Lastly, I have seen agencies that intend to train their first line supervisors, Sergeants, to be the primary UAS operators. On the surface this looks promising as these individuals typically have a well developed skill set of judgement and responsibility, but I do not recommend utilizing these positions as your primary UAS operators. The issue arises that for many incidents where the UAS is going to be deployed, the supervisor is most likely going to be part of the incident command structure. This does not allow them to devote proper attention to the flight operation. Having a subordinate as a UAS operator allows the supervisor to delegate the mission requirements and have relevant intelligence gathered, while concentrating on the incident at hand.

4. Training, training, and more training

Anyone working in public safety is used to training. It has been long established that in stressful situations you will fall back to your level of training. Depending on the level of experience of your selected pilots, you may need to simply apply previous experience in aviation or R/C aviation to public safety mission requirements, or you may be starting from scratch with trainee pilots with no previous experience at all.

No matter the experience level, it is important to have a standardized training program, both for knowledge and flying skills. This training does not stop once the pilot is cleared and authorized for operations. I like to have one training event each month for all of my pilots to review previous skills, work on new techniques, and practice scenario based missions.

5. Educate your administration and supervisors

Most agencies will have policy written that outlines who is able to request or authorize the use of the UAS. These responsibilities will usually lie with an administrator or supervisor. Your pilots have completed the training program and now possess a solid knowledge of regulations and UAS capabilities and limitations, but what about the person requesting the UAS?

As a UAS pilot, it is ingrained that as the pilot-in-command, you hold ultimate responsibility for the flight operation. The difficulty comes when supervisors, tasked with requesting or authorizing the use of the UAS, makes a request that unknowing to them would violate FAA regulations, local and state legislation, or aircraft capability.

A simple solution is to provide an abbreviated course designed for your administration and supervisors. Teach them the basic FAA regulations or COA requirements, inform them of current and pending legislation, and then take them out for a first hand experience with the UAS. The more that your administrators and supervisors understand these factors, the more efficient your operations will become.

6. The media, the good, the bad, and the ugly

The use of a UAS is a high profile event. Even for simple training events, you may be contacted by the media to provide a story. With this high profile coverage comes the responsibility to always show the use of UAS in a positive light with well trained pilots, an organized operation, and a respect for citizens rights.

In addition to the training of your administration and supervisors, as mentioned above, also provide some training to your Public Information Officer (PIO). The PIO is the face of the agency and their performance reflects on the agency as a whole. Some PIO’s will be more comfortable allowing a member of the UAS unit to answer technical questions, but a basic knowledge goes a long way.

7. Involve your community

UAS technology is new and exciting. Many people have a limited first hand experience, and are very curious. Bringing the UAS to public events is an excellent opportunity to educate the public on UAS technology, and transparency in how the agency is using that technology.

8. Engage with other local agencies

Along with educating the general public, other agencies in your area may also be curious about UAS technology, but have not taken the step yet to integrate them into their own agency. Many agencies work closely under mutual aid on a regular basis. Depending on your agency policy, the UAS may be available for mutual aid for other agencies. It is important for the other agencies to have an understanding of when they can request the use of the UAS, and what the UAS capabilities and limitations are.

9. Make a legacy

Some agencies are lucky and will have an individual on staff with aviation experience, or simply the motivation to form a UAS unit. These individuals may bring extensive knowledge and experience, making their job of being a Chief Pilot much easier. As a Chief Pilot, they will be highly successful in supervising the unit, flying operationally, documentation, being involved in the UAS industry, and following current and upcoming regulations and legislation. But what happens when that person retires or leaves the agency? It is critical that knowledge and experience is passed down to others in the unit. Always have a contingency plan that if any one person leaves the unit, that the unit will continue on and be successful.

10. Steal, beg, and borrow

Currently, there are a relatively small number of public safety agencies with an active UAS unit. But this number is growing every day. I always take the time to reach out to other agencies to provide knowledge and experience, and also learn what has been successful or failed for them. Many components, such as policies, forms, and training programs, do not require reinventing the wheel. Networking, and sharing of knowledge and experience makes us all better.

Moving forward

The use of UAS in public safety is only going to grow, and those agencies that are now integrating the technology into their operations are truly the pioneers. UAS public safety aviation is not a replacement for manned aviation units, but an augmentation that provides unique capabilities that are being developed every day. UAS is not an evolution of aviation, it is a revolution of why we fly.

About the Author

Mike Uleski is the Chief Public Safety Flight Instructor at DARTdrones and an active Sergeant with a public safety department in Florida, where he is cross trained as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, and EMT. He has extensive aviation expertise with a degree in Aeronautical Sciences from Embry-Riddle, a commercial pilot certificate with single-engine, multi-engine and instrument ratings, and 17 years of experience building and flying remote controlled aircraft. Mike has trained dozens of public safety departments through DARTdrones and actively flies sUAS for his department. DARTdrones was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank in February 2017.

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DARTdrones Chief Public Safety Instructor, Michael Uleski, had the opportunity to present alongside Brother International at this years DJI AirWorks. Brother International is a premier provider of home, home office, and business products, including industrial solutions, like their AiRScouter, a common product used by drone pilots.

DARTdrones Chief Public Safety Flight Instructor Presents with Brother International

Mike Uleski and Kevin Haughwout, Senior Manager of Product Development at Brother International, wanted to focus their presentation on the importance of situational awareness during public safety and emergency incidents when performing sUAS operations and the utilization of heads-up flight displays.

Emergency incidents can pose immediate risks to lives, property or the environment. These emergency scenes can be extremely chaotic with a wide variety of hazards including debris, moving vehicles, fire, flooding, hazardous materials, armed suspects and collapsing structures. When operating in the vicinity of these types of incidents it is imperative that all responders maintain situational awareness of their surroundings. This awareness provides for a safer working environment, better operational planning, more efficient operations, and improved tactical decision making. Operating a sUAS for public safety missions can be quite different when compared to other commercial operations. It is important to remember the aircraft may be required to be flown in close proximity to structures or vehicles or the flight crew may be required to operate in a hazardous area. In these types of incidents, having your “head on a swivel” is not just a good practice, but maybe the difference from successful missions and someone being injured, or worse.

sUAS operations utilizing a transmitter mounted flight display, common to most ground control stations, force the drone pilot to look down to monitor the video feed and aircraft telemetry. This causes drone pilots to lose their peripheral vision and awareness of their surroundings. The break in concentration from operating the aircraft by visual line-of-sight to flight display and back causes a lapse in concentration and a loss of efficiency. To help with these issues, various options are being developed for drone pilots to maintain awareness of the aircraft during direct observation but also be able to monitor the camera, video and aircraft simultaneously.

Each option has various features that set them apart, but all keep the goal of the drone pilot maintaining maximum situational awareness, not only in the vicinity of where the flight crew is but also the surrounding area around the aircraft.

About Brother’s AiRScouter

AiRScouter by Brother International is an option that allows drone pilots to fly their UAV in the first-person view without taking their eyes off the sky. Drone pilots are able to fly their drone and see what is being filmed at the same time. Airscouter decreases the chance for error and allows for increased situational awareness. Michael Uleski expressed his thought of working with Brother’s AiRScouter, “I have had the pleasure of utilizing the AiRScouter by Brother International and have found it to provide an extent balance of visual line-of-sight and first-person-view.”

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“The use of unmanned aerial systems during disaster recovery has revolutionized the way that data is collected, disseminated, and acted upon by responders. During Hurricane Matthew, the data that was collected for my city was critical to initial planning and hurricane relief efforts from assisting in the deployment of first responders negotiating debris strewn streets and avoiding flooded areas, providing a wide area view to our residents who had evacuated the area, and providing damage assessment photographs to FEMA in the weeks after the event. Hurricane Matthew was a learning event that then prepared my unit to respond in a similar manner only a year later when we experienced Hurricane Irma. Many of the lessons learned from the previous year aided in planning and data distribution, but we learn something new from every event”, said Mike Uleski, a Daytona Shores police officer and DARTdrones Chief Public Safety Instructor.

Uleski utilized his drone for search and rescue, damage assessment and structural inspections during both Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Even with wind speeds of 35-40 mph and gusts upward of 50-60 mph, Uleski was able to quickly assess the area, capture data, and deliver important intelligence to the appropriate personnel. His Hurricane Matthew sUAS mission successfully covered 36 miles in 8 hours; saving money, time, and increasing overall efficiency.

With the vast capabilities and benefits of this technology set aside, it’s important to note that drone pilots are not always seen as an asset to first responders. For example, we’ve seen dozens of forest fire fighting efforts across the country being halted due to inexperienced pilots flying near the fire operations. Throughout the 2018 wildfire season, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continuously posted reminders for drone pilots to not fly near wildfire operations and notified drone pilots of fines of up to $20,000. Disaster response operations are strategically planned and coordinated. An inexperienced UAV operator can bring the entire operation to a screeching holt. To be an asset, drone pilots must understand the tactical plan, what other air support is in the area – both manned and unmanned, which areas are restricted, who is in charge of the operation, and how their UAV can help first responders.

As with most natural disasters, the FAA will place a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR), a regulatory action issued as a Notice to Airmen that temporarily restricts aircraft operations within a defined area, around the affected area, but as with the other hurricanes authorized drone pilots will still be allowed to fly. Proper coordination with the Incident Command System (ICS), National Incident Management System (NIMS), and National Response Framework (NRF) is crucial during any large-scale event like Hurricane Florence. If UAV operators are not included in the incident operational planning, interference of recovery operations will occur and important intelligence will not be captured.

“For Hurricane Harvey, we on boarded almost 20 pilots which included verification of insurance, pilot’s licenses, drug tests and many other clerical issues. Pilots were hired for rescue and hurricane relief efforts. I personally went on three rescues, one was a life-savings rescue with an older woman trapped in her house due to rising waters. She needed immediate medical attention and 911 was swamped. Within one week, we inspected everything from commercial and residential property to monopole, lattice and guyed towers which spread out along the coast. In just that one week, I must have personally completed over ten thousand dollars worth of drone flights”, said Karl Schwab, DARTdrones Flight Instructor.

As Hurricane Florence barrels towards the Carolinas, Virginia and Maryland, it is likely that drone pilots with little to no public safety or disaster response experience will flock to the East Coast to fulfill drone jobs. To help aid in these anticipated hurricane relief efforts, as well as future efforts, the DARTdrones team of Public Safety Flight Instructors have been developing an online Disaster Response Drone Training Course that aims to teach drone pilots to be an asset in an emergency, rather than a liability.

The DARTdrones Online Disaster Response course covers:

• Type and magnitude of a disaster
• Emergency management efforts
• Phases of the emergency response process
• Roles of local, state, and federal governments
• The process for disaster declaration
• Structure of incident command system
• Effective UAV utilization for each phase
• Pre-disaster UAV applications
• Disaster response UAV applications
• Recovery UAV applications
• Drones for response to earthquakes, fires, floods, manmade disasters, hurricanes, and other weather events
• Training to build sUAS capabilities
• Preparation plans
• Advantages and disadvantages of multi-rotor, fixed wing, helicopters, and hybrid aircraft
• EO sensors, FLIR sensors, chemical detectors, and other payloads
• Volunteering for building skills
• Building relationships
• Best practices for volunteering with county, state, and international agencies
• Requirements for contracting with FEMA
• Finding contracts based on emergency management phase
• Other organizations involved in disaster response efforts
• Importance of NIMS training
• Useful waivers during disaster response
• Data requirements impact on flight profiles and altitude
• Organization data privacy and security policies
• Flight profiles
• Weather assessments, FAA weather minimums, and sources of weather information
• Site Assessment including hazards and conditions unique to emergency and disaster areas
• Roles and responsibilities of crew members, crew management
• Stressors and ways to prevent stress among crew member

Mike Uleski stated, “I am proud to have been part of developing the DARTdrones Disaster Response Drone Training Course to share some of my lessons to make sure that responders are able to be efficient and safe during unpredictable events.”

In the coming years, drones will continue to be utilized as essential tools for hurricane relief efforts. The road to getting fully trained disaster response drone operators integrated with response agencies may be a bit bumpy, but ultimately worth the effort.

We are thinking about all of the first responders and our friends in the drone community in the path of Hurricane Florence. Stay safe.

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Drone Training Grant Round One Recap: $300,000+ Pledged

Within the first month of Round One being launched, DARTdrones awarded funding to over 40 public safety departments nationwide. Based on the unique needs and sUAS use cases of each department, most grant recipients were awarded the following package: 2 free spots in In-Person Flight Training courses, 2 free spots in Part 107 Test Prep courses, 2 free spots in 11 online continuing education courses, and assistance with a COA application as well as credit towards private, on-site training.

DARTdrones Chief Public Safety Flight Instructor, Mike Uleski, commented on Round One of the grant program stating: “2018 is shaping up to be the year of the drone for public safety. Very few technologies have so quickly revolutionized the day-to-day operations for law enforcement, fire/rescue, and emergency management. As a professional in the public safety sector, it is an honor to assist other agencies integrating unmanned aerial systems into their operations. It is indisputable that this technology provides a safer working environment, but also allows us to better serve the citizens we protect.”

Awarded Public Safety Departments in Round One

• St Michaels Fire Department
• San Marcos Pass Volunteer Fire Department
• Gilt Edge Volunteer Fire Department
• Hershey Volunteer Fire Department
• Solomons VRSFD
• Sharon Police Department
• Glassboro OEM
• Killeen Police Department
• Wicksburg Volunteer Fire Rescue Department Inc.
• Jackson County Sheriff Dept
• Orange CT
• Artesia Police Department
• Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (SWAT)
• Harnett County Sheriff’s Office
• Corona Police Department
• Kansas City, Missouri Police department
• Nashua Police Department, New Hampshire
• Nashua Police Department, Iowa
• Demarest PD
• Cheswold Volunteer Fire Company
• Factoryville Fire Company
• Hamilton County Emergency
• Atlantic City Police
• DuBoistown Fire Department
• Golden Valley Police Department
• Washington Volunteer Fire Department
• Cheshire County Sheriff’s Office
• Grand County Sheriff’s Office
• Marshall County Drug Task Force
• City of Bryan Fire Department
• Manchester Emergency Management
• Department of Emergency Services Chester County PA
• Washington County Department of Public Safety
• Paris Fire Department
• Day County Search and Rescue
• Huntley Police Department
• Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Cherry Creek State Park
• Warrensburg Fire Department
• Plainfield Police Dept.
• State Attorney’s Offcie 4th Judicial Circuit
• Flagler Beach Police Department
• Blue Springs Police Department
• Jones County Sheriff’s Office
• N Okaloosa CERT
• Central Valley HIDTA
• Florida Atlantic University
• Manitowoc Police Department
• City of Beacon Police Department
• Newton County Sheriff’s Office
• Ocean Shores Police Department
• St. John’s Fire District
• Spotswood Police Department
• Midwest City Police Department
• Farmington Hills Police Dept
• Vigilant Hose Company No. 1 of Port Vue, PA
• Number One Volunteer Fire Department
• Niles Police
• Keyport Police Department
• Colchester Fire Department
• Kernersville Police Department
• Sanilac County Sheriff’s Office
• Martinsville Fire & EMS
• Arlington County Fire Department
• Greensboro Fire Department
• Arab Police Department
• Town of Greenburgh Police Department
• Hamden Police Department
• Flagstaff P. D.
• Sharon Fire Department
• Yarmouth Police Department
• Laguna Beach Police Department
• West Valley City Police Department
• Surf City Fire Department
• Endwell Fire
• Vermont State Police
• City of Manchester Police Department & Clay County School Board
• Bell County Rescue Squad
• Westborough Police Department
• Milford Police Department
• Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office
• California Department of Fish & Wildlife

See What Drone Training Grant Recipient’s Are Saying

Westborough Police Department

“Recently we had Michael Uleski of DARTdrones instruct our unit on the physiology of night flight, thermal imaging, & aerial search and rescue. The course was taught over two days and Mike was an awesome instructor, clearly knowledgeable. A number of Operators commented on how easy Mike’s instruction and demonstrations were, he followed up his instruction with real world application, he was impressive. The training provided by DARTdrones was valuable and it shows why DARTdrones is a leader in the industry!” – Detective Michael Daniels of the Westborough Police Department

Manchester Emergency Management

“First, the class delivered more than we expected or you advertised. 

Second, Mike has such a vast knowledge of flying, FAA requirements, the different products on the market and he is a great ambassador for DARTdrones. (Unfortunately, I have had the unpleasant fortune of attending other classes where the instructor was not knowledgeable, burnt out or just sour and not engaged. This WAS NOT the case with Mike!) He is professional, enthusiastic, experienced and knowledgeable. (Did I say knowledgeable enough)? He has forgotten more than we will ever know about drones and flying! I can not speak highly enough about him. 

Third, one additional side benefit Mike possesses is the fact he is a firefighter and police officer. He can speak “our language” – he’s been there – done that. This knocks down some barriers that many public safety officers have with instructors who have never experienced what they have experienced. He talks and understands our language. This is a HUGE asset!” – Donald Janelle of Manchester Emergency Management

City of Bryan Fire Department 

“The course was held at the City of Bryan Police and Fire Complex in Bryan, Ohio. Ten people from Bryan Fire Dept. and Williams Co. Sheriff’s Office, five from each agency, attended the training. The five firefighters have successfully passed their part 107 test and are beginning to receive temporary certificates. We are ready to begin flight training on our UAS and plan to be operational in October. While I did not attend the course (already certified), everyone I spoke with found the course very informative and engaging. Wonderful comments about the course instructor. I found the students well informed and knowledgeable about relevant information necessary to successfully test. 

We intend to use the drone to assist with fire ground operations, investigate possible hazmat releases for identification and access to the incident. We would assist with search operation for missing persons. The Sheriff has used his to photo accident scenes and assisting ground personnel to locate items known to be in a corn field.” – Douglas A. Pool, Assistant Fire Chief of Bryan Fire Department

Sanilac County Sheriff’s Office

Apply for a Public Safety Drone Training Grant

DARTdrones has recently launched Round Two of their grant program. As an approach to save more lives with drones and get more public safety drone programs off the ground, the DARTdrones Public Safety Grant provides full or partial funding to departments for courses such as Part 107 Test Prep Training, Basic Flight Training, Search and Rescue Training, Accident Investigation and Aerial Disaster Response Training, and a number of consulting and legal documentation writing services.

To learn more and apply for Round Two grant funding, click here.

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DJI Mavic Pro Accessories

The Mavic Pro offers great capabilities for commercial drone use. The compactness of the unmanned aerial vehicle allows pilots to take it just about anywhere, which is great for completing multiple drone jobs. For pilots looking to enter the commercial UAV industry and conduct flights for commercial drone use, the Mavic Pro can fulfill many different roles and functions at a very reasonable price. As with any drone, there are accessories that increase the performance and utility of the aircraft whether you are utilizing it for drone pilot training like Mike Uleski, or using for recreational, government, or other business purposes. In this article we will discuss 12 of Mike’s favorite accessories that he uses with his Mavic Pro, both recreationally and professionally.

1) Stick Protector

The design of the Mavic Pro transmitter makes it very easy to throw in a backpack and head out the door. The mobile device holders fold in to the body of the transmitter, along with the antennas. However, the control sticks are left exposed and can be damaged if not protected. Several designs are available that stabilize the control sticks, protect the transmitter screen, and also allow you to secure your mobile device cord to the transmitter so that you cannot forget to take it along.

2) Mobile Device Holder

The Mavic Pro Transmitter was designed to unfold the lower position and secure the mobile device that you are using as a display. However, many have found that larger devices, such as the iPhone Plus Series, especially when placed into a protective case, do not easily fit. The largest device that the Mavic Pro transmitter can fit is a bare iPad Mini 4. If you do want to use a larger device, there are holders designed to allow for the use of a standard mobile device holder. The lower portion fits into the transmitter as designed, but has an elevated mobile device holder that can fit just about any size mobile device. In addition, they allow for the attachment of a lanyard that allows the transmitter to be worn around the neck to prevent dropping it.

3) Compact Mobile Device Sunshade

Everything with the Mavic Pro is designed to be compact and easy to take with you anywhere. But a sunshade is an indispensable item for a drone pilot as most mobile devices can be difficult, or impossible, to see in bright conditions. This accessory is great to bring along for commercial drone use cases. Some sunshades can be quite bulky and reduce the convenience provided by the Mavic Pro. One of my favorite sunshades, made by PYGtech, is very lightweight and attaches easily with silicone rubber loops on each end. When folded, the sunshade is almost flat and can be easily stored in your travel bag.

4) Antenna Signal Attenuators

The Mavic Pro uses the DJI Occusync transmission technology that provides incredible signal reliability and range. Some areas still can present a challenge with interference from other radio signal sources. This can cause signal lag, video signal breakup, or possible control signal loss. An antenna attenuator allows for the transmitter to send and receive a stronger signal simply by directing the signal to the standard Mavic Pro antennas. If you happen to experience signal interference, slide the attenuator over the antennas and point the transmitter at the Mavic Pro. It’s important to note that these attenuators do make your transmitter more directional and the operator should keep the transmitter directly pointed at the aircraft during flight for best performance.

5) DJI 4-way Charge Hub

It is hard to take the Mavic Pro out and only fly one battery (~27 minutes). The batteries do not take long to charge, however, a good solution to having to constantly monitor and change the charging battery is the 4-way charging hub. The standard version uses the 50 watt charger included with the Mavic Pro. It does not charge the four batteries simultaneously, but will sense the battery with the highest charge and fully charge that battery before beginning to charge the next highest charged battery, until all four are fully charged. It is a very handy accessory to allow all four batteries to charge hands free after a long day of flying and be ready for the next day. An advanced charging hub is available and allows you to use the charger included with the Phantom 4 for faster charging. As with any LiPo battery charger, always monitor the batteries and charger during the charge cycle for safety.

6) Mini Landing Pad

The Mavic Pro sits on low profile landing gear. This keeps the aircraft very compact, but does lead to some negatives. When turning on the Mavic Pro, the camera gimbal will begin a calibration cycle. It is very important that the gimbal not be restricted during this calibration. When sitting on the landing gear the camera is very low to the ground and can easily make contact with the ground or grass. Also, when starting the motors, dirt, dust, and grit is blown up around the aircraft. This material can enter the gimbal system and cause calibration and stabilization failures. A collapsible landing pad can negate both of these issues, and also provides a high visibility landing area. Specific commercial drone use versions are available, but a collapsible auto window shade is capable of performing just as well.

7) Camera Filter Set

Professional photographers and videographers know that even though your lens does most of the work when capturing the image, filters can be just as important for that perfect shot. They may reduce glare, allow the camera to slow the video shutter speed for a more cinematic video, or increase photo contrast.

Typically, a filter set will include a UV filter, circular polarizing filter, and neutral density (ND) filters of various strengths. They are a great addition to your flight bag and will allow you to explore what your camera can do. The filters for the Mavic Pro are a friction fit to the camera barrel. It is recommended to leave the rear gimbal lock in place when installing or removing the filter to stabilize the camera gimbal and not place stress on the rubber vibration dampeners.

8) DJI Goggles

“I originally entered the world of multi-rotors building FPV race quads. Since that time I have had the ability to use a wide variety of FPV goggles ranging from analog transmitters/receivers, to connex HD setups. I recently added to my collection the DJI goggles. The goggle activation was straightforward and wirelessly linked to the Mavic Pro without any issues by following the DJI tutorial. Upon my first flight tests I was very impressed with the image. The resolution was spectacular and I experienced no video lag or signal drop out during the flight. Adding in the head tracking function truly completes the immersive flight experience. Flying in fixed-wing mode was a true joy with the drone effortlessly cruising along and banking in the turns as if being in the cockpit. The addition of the touch pad interface is a great feature that allows setting and function changes without having to remove the goggles. Even for commercial drone use, the ability to fully concentrate on your subject can provide a better idea of the shot that you are attempting to capture. Remember, you must have a visual observer/spotter when flying to satisfy FAA drone rules, part 107.33, and to comply with AMA FPV document #550 if flying recreationally when wearing these goggles”, said Chief Public Safety Instructor of DARTdrones Drone Academy, Mike Uleski.

9) Prop Guards or Cages

The Mavic Pro is a great platform to use for real estate videos, both outdoors, and indoors. The tripod flight mode and vision positioning system allows the Mavic Pro to be flown precisely in very close quarter locations, and function as an aerial tripod. But even the most experienced UAV pilots can have a moment of control loss that could lead to a crash of the aircraft, and potentially damage property. The DJI snap on propeller guards do a phenomenal job of protecting the Mavic Pro when making light contact with objects such as walls or furniture. These propeller guards also fold, keeping with the compact nature of the Mavic Pro. For more hazardous environments, DJI has recently released a set of propeller cages that completely surround the propellers, including top and bottom, making it very difficult to crash due to the collision with an object.

10) Polar Pro Katana

A very popular commercial drone use is shooting real estate videos. When shooting real estate, you not only want to include the dramatic aerial views, but also the ground level and interior shots. The Mavic Pro has a wonderful camera that is more than capable of capturing these videos or images while in flight, but sometimes it is easier to use the Mavic Pro in a hand held configuration. The Katana makes using your Mavic Pro as a hand held gimbal camera effortless as it provides handles to hold and your mobile device in a central location for both framing your shot and easy access to the shutter/record controls. It is a great accessory that opens up many more opportunities to use your Mavic Pro to capture amazing photos and videos.

11) Landing Gear Extensions

The Mavic Pro was designed to be low profile, and it fits the bill very well in that regard. One downside, however, is the lack of ground clearance during takeoff and landing. This can cause issues on rough terrain, or for allowing the camera to properly go through the initialization cycle without binding. Landing gear extensions allow you to maintain the compact storage that the Mavic Pro is known for, while providing the ability to add a few inches of ground clearance under the aircraft. Most designs are a slip-on or snap-on design that do not require any alterations to the airframe and fit neatly in your travel bag when not installed.

12) Travel Bag

If you purchased the Fly More Combo Bundle, you received the shoulder bag designed for the Mavic Pro. But, as you add some of these accessories and extra batteries, you will require a slightly larger bag to transport everything. A smaller camera bag designed for a DSLR camera works beautifully to carry everything that you would need for commercial drone use, or for a full day of recreational flying. Other than the DJI Goggles that have their own carrying case, all of the accessories featured in this article fit into, or clipped onto, the small camera bag pictured here.

The Mavic Pro broke the mold when it was introduced to the market and is a powerhouse in a small package. It combines professional quality drone features capable for commercial drone use, drone pilot training, as well as recreational flights, with an airframe that is able to fold and easily be taken with you to capture amazing shots on-the-go! It’s important to note that in order to utilize some of the accessories mentioned above, it’s crucial to know and understand all FAA drone rules for commercial drone use.

About Mike Uleski

Mike Uleski holds the title of Chief Public Safety Instructor of DARTdrones Drone Academy. Along with teaching drone pilot training, FAA drone rules and regulations courses, and advanced public safety UAV training across the U.S., Mike is an active Sergeant with a public safety department in Florida, where he is cross trained as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, and EMT. Mike has extensive aviation expertise with a degree in Aeronautical Sciences from Embry-Riddle, a commercial pilot certificate with single-engine, multi-engine and instrument ratings, and 17 years of experience building and flying remote controlled aircraft.

About DARTdrones Drone Academy

Our drone academy has trained thousands of UAV pilots in 40+ cities across the country. As the nation’s leading drone academy, we pride ourselves on our professional curriculum for commercial drone use, government use, and recreational drone pilot training. We offer in-person and online courses on FAA drone rules and Part 107 test prep to pass the Airman Knowledge Test in order to legally use an aircraft for commercial drone use. We also host hands-on drone pilot training courses to get you launched in this growing industry and to learn to fly a drone. Visit www.dartdrones.com or call us at 800.264.3907 to learn more about our drone academy!

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$100,000 Committed to Saving Lives with Drones

On the anniversary of their appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank, DARTdrones is pledging $100,000 in drone training grants to public safety organizations as a way to give back. A year ago, the small team at DARTdrones eagerly awaited their moment in the spotlight, preparing to be featured on Shark Tank. Since that time, the company tripled the size of their team, expanded training to 40 cities across the country, and added curriculum that not only helps industry professionals get started in drones, but also provides police, fire, and federal agencies with drone training that can help save lives. DARTdrones has trained over 70 police and fire departments and utilizes flight instructors with both public safety and manned aviation experience.

Drones can help first responders reduce response times, increase mission success rates, document operations, and save more lives. Despite these impressive benefits, the financial costs involved in getting a drone program off the ground remains a barrier for many public safety organizations. DARTdrones believes every department should have the opportunity to utilize drone technology in its daily operations. To achieve this goal, the company is launching the DARTdrones Public Safety Grant, which provides a pathway for departments to adopt this cutting-edge technology.

Recipients of the DARTdrones Public Safety Grant will be awarded full or partial funding for their initial training needs, potentially including basic flight training, Part 107 test prep, search and rescue training, accident investigation training, aerial disaster response training, and a number of consulting and legal documentation writing services.

DARTdrones drone academy already offers a number of free resources online for public safety departments including “Starting a Drone Program with Your Police Department,” “Starting a Drone Program with Your Fire Department,” and “The Lives Saved with Search and Rescue Drones 2017.” Additionally, the company will work with grant participants to collect data on the use of drones in public operations to continue the development of new and thorough training programs as technology and additional use-cases emerge.

DARTdrones’ Public Safety Flight Instructors have leapt at the opportunity to support the new initiative. “From mapping a disaster area to providing a safe evacuation route, drones provide critical intelligence to a police officer entering a dangerous situation. As a public safety UAS instructor, there is no greater pride than seeing the knowledge and skills you impart on your students being used towards saving lives,” says Mike Uleski, DARTdrones’ Chief Public Safety Instructor and Daytona law enforcement officer, firefighter, and EMT.

Paul Matheson, another DARTdrones Public Safety Flight Instructor and a Helicopter pilot for Air Ambulance operations and search and rescue missions, explains, “With tight budgets and the need for a force multiplier, public safety entities across the country are beginning to see the value in utilizing sUAS in their day-to-day operations. The advantage of having eyes in the sky providing situational awareness, scene security, command and control, investigation, search and assist, and patrol at a far lower cost than a manned aviation unit is changing the game for public safety operations – this is the future.”

The DARTdrones team hopes their pledge of $100,000 towards drone training is just the beginning for this program. DARTdrones is working with other drone software and services companies to expand the reach and offerings of this grant. If your company is interested in participating, contact marketing@dartdrones.com.

Apply for DARTdrones Public Safety Grant

Apply for the DARTdrones Public Safety Grant here.

About DARTdrones

DARTdrones drone academy is the nationwide leader in UAV training, offering courses in over 40 cities across the United States. The company offers basic flight training classes, Part 107 Airman Knowledge test prep courses, advanced industry-specific training, and consulting services for UAS program development and implementation. Founded in 2015, DARTdrones is headquartered in Scranton, PA and Salt Lake City, UT, and actively trains corporations, government organizations, drone entrepreneurs, hobbyists, and more. DARTdrones was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank on February 24, 2017. For more information on DARTdrones, visit www.dartdrones.com or call 800-264-3907.

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Manchester’s UAV Training for Commercial Drone Use

During the 2-day drone pilot training, students had both hands-on and classroom training to cover all necessary material for FAA drone regulations, commercial drone use, and flying drone for emergency management purposes. For any commercial drone use, especially public safety and mission specific flights, it’s crucial to obtain proper drone pilot training. As departments scale their UAV operations and bring on additional pilots, it’s important to have a standardized training model to ensure all UAV pilots are on the same page, are able to conduct the same flight missions, and that everyone is on the same knowledge and training level. For Manchester’s group, the 2-day UAV training covered the following:

In-Person Part 107 Test Prep Course

This UAV training course teaches students all FAA drone regulations and how to take and pass the Part 107 exam for commercial drone use. The knowledge needed to pass this exam can be overwhelming at times, which is why our drone pilot training school designed a comprehensive Part 107 test prep course to make sure students have a complete understanding of the FAA drone regulations as well as the steps to taking the exam and receiving a Part 107 certificate. Within this UAV training course, our instructors cover the below topics:

• FAA drone regulations under Part 107
• Airspace classifications
• Flight restrictions
• Chart study
• Airport operations
• Radio communications
• Aviation weather
• Maintenance
• Preflight procedures
• Crew resource management
• Aeronautical decision making
• sUAS loading and performance
• Hazards to fly
• Emergency procedures
• Physiology for drone pilots under FAA drone regulations
• Preparing for the Part 107 exam

Hands-On Drone Pilot Training

Our full-day drone pilot training course covers all of the knowledge and skills for flying under FAA drone regulations. Our flight instructors cover essential information for commercial drone use through a combination of classroom training and hands-on flight sessions. The students at the Manchester training covered the below UAV training curriculum:

• Commercial drone use cases – what you can do with a sUAS
• The drone basics – platforms and components
• System set up – connecting and updating your drone
• The DJI Go App
• Preparing for your first flight
• Advanced sUAS settings
• Mission specific settings
• Emergency situations and procedures
• Autonomous flight
• Tips and resources

What Was the Outcome of Manchester’s UAV Training?

With Manchester being at the beginning stages of incorporating sUAS into their daily emergency management operations, our instructors gave them a good base of what sUAS can be used for within those settings. Their goal is to use the UAV training for any purpose where it would provide a resource to an incident or situation, whether it be disaster recovery, search and rescue, suspect pursuit, etc. Our team of instructors were able to use their real-life sUAS experience to provide the students with the knowledge they would need to perform those specific emergency management flights.

Donald Janelle, Deputy Director of Manchester Emergency Management said, “I want to express my sincere gratitude for providing this valuable training – it was one of the top 3 or 4 classes I have ever attended in my 40+ years in the emergency service arena! It was worth every cent!”

The group of 24 students definitely benefited from opting for a private training. They were all in different segments of public safety (police, fire, emergency management) and had great knowledge and operational foundation for their segments, which allowed them to work together to share ideas and different mission specific tactics. For this large group, we used multiple instructors to train everyone. However, private trainings are all different and each training is truly customized to fit the needs of the particular group. We are able to break up groups into different training sessions, design a custom training program, train small groups that get a lot of one on one time with our instructor, and much more.

Donald Janelle stated that the group was very impressed with the DARTdrones flight instructors and that Manchester will be attending more advanced training in the future, specifically Night Flight UAV training!

Drone Pilot Training Instructors

Mike Uleski

Mike is an active Sergeant with a public safety department in Florida, where he is cross trained as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, and EMT. He has extensive aviation expertise with a degree in Aeronautical Sciences from Embry-Riddle, a commercial pilot certificate with single-engine, multi-engine and instrument ratings, and 17 years of experience building and flying remote controlled aircraft. Mike also serves as our Chief Public Safety Flight Instructor.

Michael Bush

Michael’s interest in aviation began back in 1985 while stationed in Germany. While spending a considerable amount of time in helicopters as a passenger, he quickly became fascinated with aviation. Although several years passed, he eventually had the opportunity to obtain his Commercial Helicopter Certificate, Instrument Rating, and Certified Flight Instructor. Most of his career was spent in the field of education, until four years ago when he was offered a position as the Director of Operations for a flight school. Recently, his interest expended to unmanned aircraft systems. He believes the future of aviation will be re-shaped as we know it and that this is a new and excited time to become involved is sUAS.

Chris Grazioso

Chris is from Abington, Massachusetts and for the past 28 years, has worked in the EMS field focusing on EMS Special Operations and Emergency Management. He is also a member of a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team and started using drone technology in their operations. Currently, they can be used for real-time damage assessments and infrastructure inspections; GIS, mapping, and pictrometry; or just provide an eye in the sky for command staff on the ground.

Chris has been interested in aviation his entire life and received his pilots license in 2010. He flies with family and friends all over New England. He’s also made 2 cross country trips, flying with a friend from Boston to Florida and Boston to Alaska in a Piper Warrior!

DARTdrones UAV Training School

DARTdrones is a nationwide drone pilot training school who has trained 7,000+ pilots in FAA drone regulations, Part 107 test prep, hands-on drone flight training, aerial mapping and aerial inspections advanced workshops, as well as customized drone pilot training for groups like Manchester Emergency Management. Join our team of elite instructors in 40+ cities across the nation. For more information on customized private UAV training, call us at 800-264-3907 or visit www.dartdrones.com. We look forward to helping you and your department launch a successful sUAS program!

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Who is Considered a Government Entity?

• Police Departments
• Fire Departments
• Local Municipalities
• Publicly Funded Universities
• Public Schools
• Law Enforcement Agencies
• Federal or State Government Agencies

UAS Rules for Government Entities

Government entities interested in launching an UAS must follow all rules under Part 107 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) or apply for and be granted a Public Use Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) for UAS operations.

Part 107

The FAA published a new set of regulations in June 2016 known as Part 107. This new set of Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) were the FAA’s first official rules governing the commercial use of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). In addition to outlining the operational limitations of sUAS, Part 107 also provided requirements for the issuance of a commercial Remote Pilot Certificate with a sUAS rating for commercial drone pilots. Part 107 is intended to be the first step towards full integration for the use of drones into the National Airspace System (NAS). Often times, organizations operating drones under Part 107 find that some of the regulations restrict them from performing certain operations. However, many sections of Part 107 do allow requests for waivers. The most common requests for waivers and authorizations are the following:

• Flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)
• Flights over people
• Night flights
• Flying in controlled airspace (near airports)

If the government entity foresees these limitations to be a continuous set back to the specific operations that will be performed by the UAS, it can be beneficial to opt for a Public Use COA.

Public Use COA

The Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) for Public Aircraft Operations gives a good amount of flexibility to the organization who holds the COA. After the FAA and the applicable Air Traffic Control facilities authorize a COA, the government entity can benefit from the below:

• Operators can routinely fly within applicable regions of controlled airspace within their respective jurisdictions
• Operators can fly under the special provisions named in their COA
• Upon your COA being authorized, the night waiver portion can be included in the operations term of the COA without added documentation
• In the event of certain emergency situations, the UAS may also be authorized to fly over people in support of the mission as long as appropriate safety protocols are in place

A government entity operating under a COA can also “self-certify” its drone operators provided that they develop and obtain FAA approval for a comprehensive, internal training program. The entity would have to accept the liability for the UAS training of pilots and any operations of the aircraft. Although a COA can provide the government users with a great level of flexibility, interested departments must first obtain a Letter of Declaration, usually from their public attorney, and petition the FAA for access to the online COA request portal. Once granted, the department must prepare and submit their request for a COA, which involves an extensive amount of detailed proposed operational information. So, while a COA does provide flexibility, it’s a longer and much more difficult process than obtaining a Part 107 certificate.

Bottom Line

A government entity must follow all UAS rules under the approved COA as written and authorized by the FAA, or only operate under Part 107 regulations and apply for FAA waivers as needed. DARTdrones offers government UAS training, Part 107 test prep, online UAS courses, UAS consulting, and the service of applying for COAs, waivers, and airspace authorizations for organizations. For more information and resources about obtaining a COA or Part 107 certificate, visit www.dartdrones.com or call us at 800-264-3907!

About the Author

Mike Uleski is the Chief Public Safety Flight Instructor at DARTdrones and an active Sergeant with a public safety department in Florida, where he is cross trained as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, and EMT. He has extensive aviation expertise with a degree in Aeronautical Sciences from Embry-Riddle, a commercial pilot certificate with single-engine, multi-engine and instrument ratings, and 17 years of experience building and flying remote controlled aircraft. Mike has trained dozens of public safety departments through DARTdrones and actively flies sUAS for his department. DARTdrones was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank in February 2017.

DARTdrones is the nation’s leader in drone training, program development and consultation, offering online and in-person courses in 40+ cities across the United States. DARTdrones takes pride in their comprehensive curriculum, developed by a former US Navy Helicopter pilot, as well as their 40+ flight instructors who are all manned and unmanned aircraft pilots. Visit us online at www.dartdrones.com, call 800-264-3907 or email the DARTdrones Team at info@dartdrones.com to learn more.

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In an effort to prove the accuracy and capabilities of using a public safety UAS in comparison to traditional methods, we are sharing a case study conducted by Mike Uleski. Mike is an active Sergeant with a public safety department and is cross trained as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, and EMT. He has a degree in Aeronautical Sciences from Embry-Riddle, a commercial pilot certificate with single-engine, multi-engine and instrument ratings, and 17 years of experience building and flying remote controlled aircraft. He also serves as the Chief Public Safety Instructor at DARTdrones, a national UAV training school.

The Problem

On August 17, 2017, units responded to a call regarding several vehicle burglaries that had recently taken place in the Daytona Beach Shores, FL area. The Sheriff’s Office on scene opted to first utilize its manned helicopter to search for the suspects. A thorough search of the area yielded negative results and the suspects were not located. Additional information was provided that several handguns had also been stolen during the vehicle burglaries.

It was believed that the suspects had two stolen vehicles at a local hotel. One vehicle was confirmed stolen, while a second vehicle was believed to be involved. The ground units near the hotel did not want to alert the armed suspects of their activity since it was not safe to have a ground unit capture the second license plate to confirm the status of the vehicle.

The Solution

Mike was called in by his agency to use the department’s public safety UAS, which was equipped with a visual camera and high powered spotlight. Due to the mission requirement for a covert approach, Mike chose to launch his DJI Mavic Pro. Tip: The Mavic Pro provides a quieter aerial platform, adequate flight time, and 2x digital zoom capability.

It’s important to note that Mike’s agency holds an airspace authorization for the local class C airspace. In order to obtain approval, the remote Pilot in Command notified central dispatch of the commercial drone operations. Another officer within Mike’s agency, who also holds a Part 107 certificate, was then dispatched to assist as a VO (visual observer) for the mission. After all necessary pre-planning was complete, the mission began.

Mike was instructed to launch the UAS into the specific location (approximately 1,000ft away) and confirm the license plate of the second possibly stolen vehicle. With the public safety UAS, he was able to descend directly over the top of the one-story hotel, and remained out of visible sight for any people in the hotel. He descended to 30ft above the roof and used the 2x digital zoom to read the license plate of the second vehicle. The license plate was confirmed as stolen and linked to the same group of suspects who had been captured on a home video surveillance system. Once that information was collected, Mike ascended the UAS back to an operational altitude of 150ft to resume surveillance.

Ground surveillance then notified the supervisor that the subjects were entering the vehicle and appeared to be leaving the scene. All units quickly mobilized and the group was detained in the parking lot of the hotel. The Mavic Pro was flown back to the staging point and recovered without incident.

The Results

It is very important to understand your state and local laws related to all aspects of operating an UAS. Florida passed the “Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act” in May of 2015. It restricts the use of UAS for law enforcement when collecting evidence. Several exceptions are included in the statute, of which one includes:

(c) If the law enforcement agency possesses reasonable suspicion that, under particular circumstances, swift action is needed to prevent imminent danger to life or serious damage to property, to forestall the imminent escape of a suspect or the destruction of evidence, or to achieve purposes including, but not limited to, facilitating the search for a missing person.

Due to the identification of the first vehicle being connected to a group that had been observed committing an armed home invasion and vehicle burglaries, it was believed they had the capacity to cause death or injury, escape, or destroy evidence if swift action was not taken. A search warrant was being submitted at the time of the operation, but due to the quickly developing incident, it was not possible to have it signed before the suspects would be able to escape.

The operational advantages an UAS brings to an agency cannot be underestimated. The intelligence that a UAS can provide can be difficult or impossible to acquire by other means. We will also see more mutual aid responses from agencies with an operational UAS unit. If you can, it is important to match your aircraft to your mission. In this incident, the agency’s DJI Inspire 1 would have been visually and audibly noticeable when attempting to read the stolen vehicles license plate. The DJI Mavic Pro fit the mission requirements perfectly and performed successfully.

Public Safety UAS Operations vs Traditional Methods

In a traditional setting, a public safety professional would typically perform ground surveillance and a manned helicopter search. Both of those methods would be unsafe, overt, and not time or cost sensitive. Launching the public safety UAS successfully hit all of those points.

Traditional Methods

Total flight time: 30 minutes response to on scene, 30 minutes on scene, 30 minutes return to hanger

Safety: The helicopter is limited to a minimum of 500ft altitude due to noise level. The aircraft is easily heard, recognizable, and draws attention. The manned pilots are at risk due to overt environment and they could potentially be fired upon.

Cost: $2,500 per hour of flight (depending on location)

Overall efficiency: Due to the size and noise of a manned helicopter, the suspects have time to flee the scene, yielding negative results. Also, due to the angle required to read the license plate, a manned helicopter was unable to successfully perform this specific mission.

UAS Operations

Total flight time: 26 minutes

Safety: The UAS pilot was safely on the ground and out of sight

Cost: Initial cost of the UAS ($1,000+ depending on platform)

Overall efficiency: The UAS brought speed, accuracy, intelligence, and safety to the mission. In just 26 minutes, the mission was complete, incident free.

UAS After Action Report

• Date: August 17, 2017
• Event: Capture of armed home invasion robbery suspects, Daytona Beach Shores, FL
• Mission: Assist with surveillance for possible armed suspects
• Aircraft: DJI Mavic Pro
• Flights: 1
• Flight crew: 1 pilot-in-command/1 visual observer
• Total flight time: 26 minutes
• Total distance flown: 0.75 miles
• Maximum altitude: 125 feet AGL
• Weather: Temp 89 degrees F, sky clear and visibility unlimited. Wind from the east at 7kts.

Where Does DARTdrones Come In?

We are the industry leader in UAS training and UAS consulting. Just like Sergeant Mike Uleski’s mission, every public safety case has to be executed efficiently and safely. That is why DARTdrones creates custom public safety drone training programs. Every mission is different, which is why our flight school is tailored to the specific needs and anticipated missions of each department. We have trained 30+ police and fire departments from across the globe on basic drone training and mission specific operations. The training is designed to provide professionals with a strong foundation of skills while creating scenarios one would encounter during a mission. For more information on our public safety drone training programs, Part 107, and other online UAS courses, visit www.dartdrones.com or call us at 800-264-3907!

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Throughout this case study, you will learn how Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in public safety have the capability of offering significant efficiency advances compared to traditional search and rescue, damage assessment, and structural inspection operations. DARTdrones is excited to share Sergeant Mike Uleski’s story demonstrating this industry-altering technology.

The Problem

In October 2016, the east coast of Florida saw the first approach of a powerful and devastating tropical cyclone which became the first major hurricane in the area since Hurricane Felix in 2007. Hurricane Matthew was forecasted to strike the Florida Peninsula as a Category Four storm but actually arrived as Category Five. The storm’s highest winds reached 165 mph and damages were estimated to be over $15 billion.

While Mike Uleski attended his agency’s operational briefing regarding all plans for before, during, and after the hurricane, he was tasked with flying the department’s UAS unit for post-storm search and rescue, damage assessment, and structural inspections. “I received permission and I quickly began planning and mobilizing for launch,” said Uleski.

All registered UAS pilots received an email prior to the hurricane regarding flying in areas affected by the storm. Abiding by all FAA rules, regulations, and Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR), Mike contacted the air traffic control (ATC) for Daytona Beach International Airport, class C airspace. He received airspace authorization as needed and was required to contact ATC prior to takeoff and notify them once UAS operations were completed.

The Solution

An Unmanned Aerial System was launched immediately after the hurricane passed and winds subsided to perform initial hazard and damage assessments. Mike acted as the Pilot-In-Command and was assigned a Visual Observer for all hurricane flight operations. The aerial perspective was critical for these initial assessments in order to scout areas of heavy damage where ground vehicles had difficulty maneuvering due to downed trees and power lines.

Damage assessment and aerial inspection flights were deployed after initial hazard and damage assessment flights concluded. The drone being used, a DJI Phantom 3 Advanced, was able to properly perform, even with wind gusts up to 30kts. A 5-block area was able to be assessed with a single battery. Each building was surveyed with the UAV, and areas of observed damage were noted on a map for later detailed inspection and analysis.

Due to the amount of damaged property, multiple UAV flights were necessary. The operational area was approximately seven miles long, and a half mile wide. The initial assessment and survey flights required roughly two hours of flight time. All other damage assessment and inspections required six hours of flight time. Total flight time and execution was eight hours.

The Results

Using a drone to inspect and assess hurricane damage allowed UAS pilots to collect data much faster than traditional public safety methods. The aerial photographs and videos collected during these missions were quickly captured, downloaded, and delivered to the city public works department before beginning hazard clearing. The local power company used the information for analysis of the integrity of the power grid, and the building department used it for building inspections. The area’s finance department also used the data for documentation for FEMA reimbursements. With this detailed UAV data, the city was able to quickly and efficiently evaluate damage and correctly prioritize clean up.

During large scale events, such as Hurricane Matthew, it is important to understand the National Incident Management System (NIMS). Any large-scale events will involve an incident command structure. An UAS can provide important intelligence to the incident commander, but also interfere with recovery operations if not included in the incident operational planning. Free online classes are available for introductory courses, ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800, through FEMA. It is highly recommended for any UAS operator, volunteer or public safety professional, to have these certifications and a working knowledge of how to integrate it into the incident command structure prior to responding to a public safety incident.

Overall, these flights demonstrated significant cost and time savings. More UAS pilots will respond to future natural disasters and major events to assist in assessment, relief, and recovery. UAS training and technology has already been credited with saving lives, and the number of rescue missions will surely increase. But as the technology is very new to public safety, it is important to always operate in a safe manner and learn from other department’s successes, as well as their failures.

UAS After Action Report

• Date: October 8 – 9, 2016
• Event: Hurricane Matthew, Daytona Beach Shores, FL
• Mission: Initial search and rescue, area hazard and damage assessment, structural inspection
• Aircraft: DJI Phantom 3 Advanced
• Flight crew: One Pilot-In-Command/One Visual Observer
• Total number of flights: 30
• Total flight time: 8 hours
• Total distance flown: 36 miles
• Maximum altitude: 150 feet AGL
• Weather: Temp 85 degrees F, sky clear with unlimited visibility. Wind from the southwest at 20kts., gusting to 27kts.

About DARTdrones

We are the national leader in UAS training and UAS consulting. We offer in-person and online Part 107 test prep and commercial drone training programs. If your department is interested in implementing drones into daily operations, call us about our custom public safety drone training. Check out www.dartdrones.com or call 800.264.3907 to learn more information!

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