Public Safety Drone Programs: Key Questions, Key Answers from AIRT Public Safety UAS Survey

A comprehensive nationwide survey conducted by the Airborne International Response Team (AIRT) provided the most detailed snapshot to date of how U.S. public safety agencies were adopting drone technology. The findings revealed a sector in a phase of rapid, if sometimes challenging, expansion.

The survey highlighted that over 70% of agencies with drone programs reported using them for multiple missions, with search and rescue leading, followed by traffic crash reconstruction and active crime scene documentation. However, the “growing pains” were equally evident. The top three challenges cited were persistent funding limitations for both equipment and training, navigating the complex web of FAA regulations for BVLOS and flying over people, and developing standardized operating procedures. Notably, agencies that had moved past the pilot stage to establish a formal, funded UAS unit with certified pilots reported dramatically higher satisfaction and quantifiable results, such as reduced scene clearance times and improved officer safety. The survey ultimately served as both a roadmap and a rallying cry, identifying common hurdles so that pioneering agencies could share best practices to help others mature their programs more efficiently.