We’ve seen incredible case studies on how useful drones are to first responders, from informing police officers of hostile situations before arriving on scene to searching for a missing person in the dark, they are vital for life saving operations. So, why doesn’t every police department adopt a drone program?

The biggest hurdle hasn’t been the cost, it’s been the approval process. The process to get a Certificate of Approval (COA) to fly a drone for first response mission beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) is lengthy and inefficient to the point where after months in the process, some organizations dropped the effort all together. However, all of that has changed.

The FAA recently announced an update to the regulatory process for Drone as First Responder (DFR) operations that is set to be far more streamlined and attainable. What was previously the COA needed for DFR to fly is now a simplified Certificate of Waiver (COW). The COW process is handled solely through the FAA Flight Standards.

DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Alliance, an organization dedicated to bringing drone solutions and education to first responders, played a key role in supporting the new approval process. By working closely with DFR Working Group, the FAA and White House Staff, DRONERESPONDERS voiced the need for all first responders, making it clear that the need for a new approval process was critical.

“We stressed the message that public safety needs to have priority in the waiver process,” said Chief Charles L. Werner, Director of DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Alliance. “This means focusing on better guidance, streamlining processes, quicker approvals and better communications. Public Safety drone programs have and will continue to save lives”

Until now, it was required that COAs were reviewed by both Flight Standards and Air Traffic Organization (ATO). The process has transitioned to a Certificate of Waiver (COW) reviewed and issued by Flight Standards only. ATO has already granted airspace authorization in this waiver for UAS flights at/or below the Facility Map Grid altitudes. This changes the review/approval process from months to weeks. Recently, two DFR COWs were issued in one week. The changes no longer require filing NOTAMS or monthly reporting. However, agencies must now collect their data and have it available if requested by the FAA. These new COWs are now valid for 4 years (previously 2 years) after approval.

Today, there are about 50 DFR programs in operation. With this development, the number of DFR programs will jump to the thousands in the coming years. The new COW lets departments remove human visual observers off of roofs and places them with detection equipment such as ADS-B in or radar. This is a major cost and risk reduction for departments where bad weather would previously impede operations, now that is not an issue.

For first responders, lost time equates to lost lives. This is a driving factor in DFR program adoption, “everyday a waiver is not approved, is a day lost from saving a life or making communities safer!” Chief Werner further mentioned.

Who should apply for a COW?

While the new approval process is far more efficient than the former COA, it is still important to take into consideration your department’s needs before applying. For some operations, having Part 107 is sufficient.

“Under Part 107, any public safety organization (regardless of eligible to be a PAO operation) can take advantage of the Part 107 Public Safety Organization Obstructed Shielding waiver and fly in any airspace for 1-mile BVLOS at 200’ or below or within 50’ of the highest obstacle with ADS-B in only,” Chief Werner told CUAV news. “This includes volunteer fire departments, search and rescue organizations, and other public safety organizations. Unless you are flying BVLOS for flights more than one mile, most tactical operations will NOT need a COW.”

Departments needing drone flights that categorize as BVLOS for more than one mile should apply for a COW. As part of the new process, public safety agencies will need to include a letter to validate that they are a public safety organization along with a statement declaring the purpose of your request to use drones in your community, A public declaration letter, a brief CONOPS, complete a questionnaire and if wishing to fly above 200’ must submit the CMD-DAA form. All forms and documents are sent via email to the FAA and will only be reviewed by Flight Standards.

What about Agencies with Existing COAs?

Public Safety Agencies with existing COAs that want to take advantage of these changes (4-year approval, no NOTAMs, no monthly reporting, etc.), will have to resubmit a new COW in place of their existing COA.

Benefits of Drones for Public Safety

As stated by Chief Werner, drones for public safety are widely beneficial to the communities they serve. Below are the key benefits DFRs provide:

  1. Enhance Safety for responders and community
  2. Provide better decision making by gathering more information not seen from ground
  3. Provide real time situational awareness that can live streamed to anyone authorized to access the video.
  4. For law enforcement, it has become one of their best de-escalation tools.
  5. Serve as a force multiplier, especially important with short-staffed agencies. 
  6. DFRs allow ground units to return to service 25% on average before a ground unit arrives at the scene, which means they can respond to another call for service.

For complete instructions on how to submit a new COW waiver for DFR, visit DRONESRESPONDERS’ posting on the new process here.

For anyone interested in participating in the DRONERESPONDERS DFR WG, please email [email protected]. The DFR WG meets monthly on the third Thursday of  at 4 pm EST.