Skyfire AI has been selected by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to serve as programme manager, in collaboration with CAL Analytics – ODOT’s uncrewed traffic management software partner – for the Ohio Drone First Responder (DFR) pilot programme. ODOT says the initiative will be the first statewide deployment of DFR technology in the United States. Created under Ohio House Bill 96, the two-year pilot will evaluate how drones can improve situational awareness, reduce emergency response times and enhance the safety of first responders.
As programme manager, SkyfireAI will oversee every phase of the pilot – from coordinating with vendors and municipalities to select and install rooftop drone systems, to ensuring compliance with US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, to training operators on best practices for DFR deployment.
SkyfireAI has managed and operated municipal DFR programmes in several cities across the United States and operated medical drone delivery pilot programmes and disaster response initiatives with CVS Health. The company’s expertise includes uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) integration, FAA waiver navigation, UAS traffic management (UTM), and large-scale public safety training. SkyfireAI’s artificial intelligence capabilities and automated data analysis make it possible to scale the pilot programme further.
As a technical integrator for this initiative, CAL Analytics will collaborate with drone manufacturers and first responders across Ohio to connect them to statewide services that enable safe, coordinated drone operations. This includes development of the nation’s first statewide UTM system, designed to strategically deconflict drone activity and ensure operational safety. A network of airspace monitoring and detection sensors will also provide situational awareness for DFR operators by identifying and tracking nearby aircraft.
Over the next two years, the Ohio DFR pilot programme will equip municipalities with the necessary systems, deliver training for first responders and enable FAA-approved beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations. By standardising statewide procedures, collecting and analysing performance data and engaging communities through transparent outreach, the programme aims to demonstrate how drones can become a trusted, life-saving tool for public safety agencies.
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