Many successful public safety sUAS programs utilize pilot task books to ensure standardized and appropriate skill proficiency and documentation. Subsequent pilot training activities are often documented using the organization’s in-house training record retention software programs. COAs require that you have a training framework in place which is specifically outlined in a COA.

Certificate of Authorization (COA) – COAs can only be obtained to achieve governmental functions. The term “governmental function”, as defined by the FAA, is ”an activity undertaken by a government, such as national defense, intelligence missions, firefighting, search and rescue, law enforcement (including transport of prisoners, detainees, and illegal aliens), aeronautical research, or biological or geological resource management.”

Frequent and ongoing pilot training is key to a successful public safety sUAS program. Essential elements include dedicated pilot and training staff, adequate and ongoing dedicated financial resources to support the program, support of organizational leadership and on-going integration of sUAS in daily operations.

Standard operating procedures (SOP)s establish the interdepartmental framework for your sUAS program, setting your program up for success and safe operation. Standard operating procedures should contain the following details at a minimum:

This Buyer’s Guide provides an overview on sUAS public safety drone programs. It is meant to provide a starting place for information and research but is not meant to be all-inclusive.

The use of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) in public safety has increased exponentially in recent years due to their ability to improve response-scene situational awareness at a relatively low cost.

The following options are only available after obtaining a Blanket and/or Jurisdictional COA and can increase the capabilities of your drone program.

Depending upon your jurisdiction’s airspace, and mutual aid policies, one or any combination of the following offerings may be necessary:

For legal use in the United States, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) requires the sUAS to meet the following basic criteria:

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According to Bard College’s most recent report, 1,578 state and local public safety agencies in the U.S. have drones. Since 2018, there has been a 45% increase in the number of counties with at least one drone program, as well as a 90% increase in counties with at least two agencies with a drone program. These figures only continue to rise as sUAS are becoming efficient tools in the public safety space.

Equipment varies depending on needs and operations. There are various types of aircraft that serve different purposes with varying limitations.