Enables Faster Response Time, Enhances Situational Awareness and Safety

uAvionix, based in Bigfork, Montana, announced that the FAA has approved the Oswego City Police Department’s Drone as First Responder (DFR) program for operations Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) without Visual Observers (VOs).

The uAvionix Casia G ground-based Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) system was instrumental in gaining the approval.

Casia G is an advanced ground-based DAA surveillance system that provides crucial airspace awareness to enhance situational awareness for drones operating beyond line of sight with no visual observers as well as any piloted aircraft within proximity of the drones. The overall benefit is collision avoidance for all aircraft in the immediate area of the incident or emergency.

In the case of a police incident, the platform enables very rapid response times that provide immediate situational awareness before officers arrive.

A drone may be able to confirm, or refute, the presence of a firearm, give an idea of the number of perpetrators involved, or permit higher level commanders to relay informed guidance to junior officers. This real-time surveillance and control capability increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the response and may also aid in strategic deployment of resources.

The approval paves the way for widespread adoption of DFR programs with approvals for Police, Fire, and EMS departments around the country.

FMI: www.uavionix.com, www.irisonboard.com