Georgia to implement DFR program in Troup County
The US state of Georgia has partnered with drone manufacturer Skydio to develop a ‘drone as first responder’ (DFR) program
The program will seek to use drones to enhance safety and emergency response capabilities in West Georgia, a largely rural region which features a number of key highways, including Interstates 75, 85, and 185.
The drones would be able to remotely transmit photos and videos of incidents as they happen, providing critical situational awareness to police, paramedics, firefighters, and other agencies.
In addition to Skydio, the initiative involves the participation of Georgia Department of Transportation’s net-zero highway testbed, The Ray; the Troup County Marshal’s Office; and the Troup County Fire Department.
To launch the initiative, The Ray has donated two Skydio drones to the government of Troup County, and has provided training resources to the county through Skydio. The county already operates a limited drone program with one aircraft and four pilots.
The partners are preparing to apply for funding from the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grant program. The funds would be used to acquire remote operations equipment, fund training for pilots, and pursue Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for DFR operations.
The town of Kalispell, Montana, also recently acquired a new emergency response drone.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at AirMed&Rescue. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.