Limestone County Sheriff gains drone authorisation
The aim is to use the remotely piloted aircraft for missions including critical life-saving efforts such as locating missing persons.
The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) of Athens, Alabama, US, has obtained a Certificate of Authorization (COA) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into its daily operations. The application was supported by Avion Unmanned, a commercial branch of Avion Solutions, Inc., which provided training for the department’s officers and deputies to be FAA-compliant, legal, and safe UAS operators. The firm also supported the development of the agency’s operating procedures and the COA request.
The COA was issued by the FAA in co-ordination with the local air traffic organisation at Huntsville International Airport, said Avion. The Certificate authorises the LCSO to operate within Limestone County and in the surrounding areas.
The aim is to use the remotely piloted aircraft for missions including critical life-saving efforts such as locating missing persons. The quadcopter models adopted by the force are a DJI Phantom 3 and a PSI Tactical InstantEye. Both sport built-in 4K camera systems.