Airspace Link has partnered with the City of Arlington, Texas, to pilot its new FlySafe Program, powered by the AirHub platform. The Arlington FlySafe website will enable residents and visitors to quickly understand FAA drone rules, local advisories, ground risk hazards, and additional information to help them plan safer and compliant flights when operating in Arlington, says a joint press release.
Arlington has already begun to realize these benefits for public safety initiatives within its police department, increasing the number of officers trained to operate drones. In September, infrared video from a city-owned drone helped police determine a wanted man on a roof was unarmed, which led to a peaceful surrender. Drones can also support the department in search and rescue operations.
Arlington is a member of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and works to deploy initiatives to further advanced air mobility integrations. NCTCOG has a history of advocating for safe drone operations. The NCTCOG entered into an agreement with NASA in May of 2021 to study the potential of drone technology and integrate it into future transportation plans. In a joint release, the teams cited that NASA will work with NCTCOG and a group of public and private-sector partners to study cargo-carrying drones and automated air taxis during a series of at least four future workshops.
“It’s clear that drones are scaling quickly, and it’s important to be prepared for that increase. We’re excited to see Arlington launch this pilot program to help support and further operations in the region, especially as we look to test Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) advanced operations. Partnering with Airspace Link will help support the safety and efficiency of these programs to continue the region’s leadership in this space with a positive impact on the communities,” said Ernest Huffman, Program Manager of the Aviation Planning and Education Program Area at NCTCOG.
Airspace Link will also be joining the NCTCOG at its December “Know B4 You Fly Your Drone” workshop to help train pilots in the area to use the AirHub platform to increase their situational awareness and safety when planning their drone operations.
“We’ve been working in the region for a while as part of the North Texas UAS Pilot Program to enable safer drone operations today while laying the groundwork for advanced operations in the future. It’s imperative to properly prepare for the increase in operations to ensure the infrastructure can support the safe deployment of this new dimension of mobility in the skies, and we look forward to partnering with Arlington to help them lead the way,” said Michael Healander, CEO of Airspace Link.
(Image: Airspace Link FlySafe Program, powered by the AirHub platform )
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