Public Safety Drone News and Policy Updates
Policy shifts, grant cycles, program-building playbooks, and case studies — written for chiefs, program managers, and pilots.
Part 108 Is Coming: What Small Agencies Should Do Now
The BVLOS NPRM comment window closed in October 2025 with more than 3,000 comments on the record. A final rule is expected in 2026 — here is what small public safety programs should be doing in the meantime.
Read article →The FY2027 C-UAS Grant Round Opens to All States: How to Prepare
FEMA's Counter-UAS grant program is on track to make $250 million available in FY2027, with eligibility broadened beyond the initial pilot states. Here is how to position your agency through your State Administrative Agency.
Read article →Re-Fleeting After the Covered List: An NDAA-Compliance Primer
With the FCC Covered List action of December 2025, the American Security Drone Act, and a growing patchwork of state laws, agencies face hard questions about which aircraft they can fly. A practical primer for program leaders.
Read article →From a Drone in a Case to a Defensible Program: The Six-Stage Model
DFPSA's operating model breaks a public safety drone program into six stages — Authority, Personnel, Equipment, Operations, Training, and Trust. A walkthrough for program leaders.
Read article →Counter-UAS at Public Events: A Practical Primer
Detection, mitigation, and the legal gray zones every agency planner should understand.
Read article →Thermal SAR in Sub-Zero Conditions: Lessons from a Mountain Rescue
A county SAR team shares what worked — and what failed — during a 14-hour winter search.
Read article →How a Mid-Size PD Cut Response Times 38% with DFR
Inside a 12-month rollout of a Drone as First Responder program and the metrics that justified expansion.
Read article →FAA Moves on BVLOS Rule: What It Means for Public Safety
The proposed Part 108 rule could unlock routine beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights for first responders.
Read article →