Drone technology has been used in public safety for years with the requirement to stay in the line-of-sight of the operator, but this is now changing. Last week the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) changed the rules with a waiver.
Public safety agencies have been trying to get approval for using drone technology beyond line-of-sight for a while, arguing that that stipulations create issues and prevent them from rescue operations such as victims stranded in mountain terrain. The waiver has taken nine months of work but was finally released by the FAA last week. The creators of the waiver included input from DRONERESPONDERS, York County Fire and Life Safety, Chula Vista Police Department and the San Diego Integration Pilot Program.
Public safety organizations can now apply for a beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) waiver. If the waiver is granted to the agency, they must comply with multiple spatial regulations and only be performed when necessary. The guide reads:
“In a time of extreme emergencies to safeguard human life, first responders require the capability to operate their unmanned aircraft (UAS) beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) to assess the operational environment such as a fire scene at a large structural fire, to conduct an aerial search on a large roof area for a burglary in progress, or to fly over a heavily forested area to look for a missing person.”
The FAA will continue to tackle the technical challenges of scaling BVLOS and make it routine and economically viable. Read more about the new waiver by clicking on the following link: https://www.govtech.com/public-safety/FAA-Announces-Drone-Line-of-Sight-Waiver-for-Public-Safety.html
North Region Communication Center 