APSA E-Newsletter : 2021 July

Welcome!

APSA's E-Newsletter is designed to bring you the latest on news and events within the public safety aviation community. The E-Newsletter may also be read online here at our website.

APSCON 2021 17 Days Away; Celebrate 50+ Years of Training Excellence!

APSCON 2021, the Airborne Public Safety Association’s 50th annual conference & exposition, will be conducted in-person in New Orleans, July 26-31. Join us as we celebrate 50+ years of training excellence in one of our favorite convention cities. Filled with education and training, APSCON offers the best conference courses and classes in the industry, and the conference’s expo hall showcases the latest cutting-edge technology for public safety aviation. And special corporate partners are planning some awesome networking events at places like The Fillmore (Bell), Barcadia (MDHI) and Mardi Gras World (Airbus).

Register and make your plans for New Orleans. All COVID restrictions have been lifted for the fully vaccinated and the city, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport have undergone improvements and revitalization that you are sure to enjoy. There is no capacity limit on bars, live music venues, athletic events, convention centers and other large gatherings.

The latest Information on all of the courses, classes, networking events, lodging, etc. can be found on our website. We look forward to seeing you in the Big Easy and letting the good times roll!

APSA On-The-Road: NIST sUAS Train-the-Trainer Course

APSA is offering the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) sUAS Standard Test Methods Train-the-Trainer Course. These On-the-Road events will feature 24 hours of classroom and hands-on flight instruction and evaluation at a cost of $275. Courses currently scheduled are:

• Creve Coeur, MO – July 22-24
• Fairfax, VA – August 12-14
• Lafayette, IN - September 23-25
• Niceville, FL - October 14-16, 2021

Location details, course and registration information, and a listing of local hotels can be found here. A minimum of 30 paid registrants per course at least 21 days in advance is required to conduct these courses, so register today!

The NIST sUAS Standard Test Methods are an excellent way to add a sUAS pilot flight skills credentialing component to your sUAS program. NIST has created a comprehensive user guide, scoring forms, and apparatus targets that can be printed and placed in the test apparatus buckets. Attendees will learn how to fabricate apparatuses, conduct trials, and embed them into their own training and credentialing programs. The NIST sUAS Test Methods have been adopted, or are under consideration for adoption, by the Airborne Public Safety Accreditation Commission, National Fire Protection Association, and ASTM International.

Attendees should be experienced sUAS pilots who want to hone their skills, evaluate sensor systems and/or have a desire to train and evaluate other sUAS pilots. Attendees must bring their own quadcopter style sUAS, capable of at least 15 minutes of flight time, equipped with a camera. Additional sUAS batteries and a battery charging station are also required. A laptop computer is highly desirable.

APSA Safety Program Manager Bryan Smith Authors Air Support Safety Book

In his quest to reduce flight risks and increase mission success among his peers, Bryan Smith writes a bi-monthly column for the APSA’s journal Air Beat magazine. His new book Air Support Safety contains over 10 years worth of articles, advice and interviews on how to pursue the highest levels of aviation safety and mission effectiveness. To be released July 20, Air Support Safety will be for sale at APSCON 2021 in New Orleans and available direct from the printer or through online book retailers such as Amazon.  Get your book copy signed in person during APSCON on Friday, July 30, 11:00 am – 12:00 noon at The Hangar, adjacent to the registration area. See you in New Orleans!

Anne Arundel Police Receives Newly Completed Bell 407GXi

The Anne Arundel County (MD) Police Department Aviation Unit recently took delivery of a new Bell 407GXi helicopter configured for police operations. PAC International completed and delivered the aircraft. Its law enforcement configuration includes an expanded instrument panel, polycarbonate windshields, a nightscanner searchlight, rappel and fast rope insertion systems, high visibility crew windows and sliding cabin doors. PAC also installed an Air Comm heating and air conditioning system; Aero Dynamix supplemental NVIS lighting; a Garmin traffic, XM weather and ADS-B Eagle digital audio system; a Rhotheta direction finder; and TDFM9100/APX8500 tactical communications.

CNC Technologies provided the aircraft a special mission suite, including a Wescam MX10 camera with airborne displays, an AeroComputers mapping system, a Trakka searchlight, a Troll downlink, Meeker specialized mounts and a custom PAC tactical flight officer operating station. The aircraft exterior was painted to customer specifications, including airbrushed police and county logos.

The Anne Arundel County Police Department was founded in 1937 and launched its first airborne operations in 1987, using a rented helicopter flown from Lee Airport in the Southern District. In 1996, the department acquired six surplus Bell Jet Ranger helicopters from the U.S. Department of Defense.

SOURCE: PAC International

West Yorkshire Police Resigns As Lead NPAS Force

West Yorkshire (U.K.) Mayor Tracy Brabin has given 12 months formal notice for the constabulary to cease its role as the lead local policing body for the National Police Air Service (NPAS). NPAS, which operates a fleet of 19 helicopters from 15 bases across England and Wales, is currently headquartered at the West Yorkshire Police base in Wakefield. Brabin, elected in May, now serves as West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner.

According to the NPAS website, the agency provides all police forces in England and Wales with air support 24/7, 365 days a year, assisting officers with a “variety of tasks.” But minutes from a recent board meeting indicated the fleet’s availability was “suboptimal” and described a “financial challenge” for the police forces funding NPAS. “NPAS has been a millstone around the force’s neck for years,” said Owen West, a retired West Yorkshire chief superintendent. “Easy and accessible drone technology is making a standing national fleet less viable year on year. Being national lead adds very little value to [West Yorkshire] taxpayers.”

Brabin said she believes the U.K. needs to consider a “a new delivery model” for national aviation support. The transition to a new lead agency will take place gradually over the next 12 months, officials said.

SOURCE: www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

Police Safety UAS Begin Operation in Hartford County

The Harford County (MD) Sheriff's Office officially announced a new small UAS Unit during a press event and demonstration in mid-June. The six-person UAS Unit operates four drones equipped with one-way speakers, lights and cameras to help deputies with search and rescue missions, visual inspections, K-9 tracking and more. So far, the department has deployed the UAS on a barricade incident and helped find several lost children.

Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said the four drones cost the department a total of $41,444, but at no cost to the county’s taxpayers. Like the Sheriff’s Office’s virtual training platform, the drones were purchased with assets seized from convicted drug dealers.

The drones offer limited aerial capabilities without the costs of maintaining a police helicopter, Gahler said. The drones feed video back to a control pad, which can then be expanded on a larger screen to give deputies an eye in the sky during dangerous encounters or when looking for lost people. They can also be used in natural disasters to survey damage to structures, though they can only withstand 24 to 27 mph winds and are not waterproof.

Source: www.baltimoresun.com and www.govtech.com

Border Patrol & Police Helicopters Pursue Heavily Modified Drone

A heavily modified unmanned aircraft led helicopters from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Tucson Police Department on a high-speed chase through the skies of Arizona in February, according to a report released in late June. The official Tucson police report said the UAS was able to “perform like no other [drone],” reaching speeds of up to 100 mph. The report said the drone flew into the CBP helicopter’s path on February 9 and orbited it several times, then fled at high speed, leading the aircraft and Tucson Police Department helicopter on a circular, hour-long chase.

The drone at one point entered restricted military airspace at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base about five miles outside of Tucson. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now looking into the incident. FBI officials told local media the drone was capable of reaching 14,000 feet and speeds over 100 mph, with a range of 70 miles. The CBP crew operated an Airbus AS350 on the night of the pursuit; the Tucson Police Department Air Support Unit was flying its Bell 206B-3 Jet Ranger.

SOURCE: www.dailymail.co.uk

NJSP Helicopter Helps Rescue Stranded Jersey Shore Jet Skiers

New Jersey State Police (NJSP) officers and staff members from University Hospital rescued three jet skiers stranded in a marshy area on the Jersey Shore in early June. Troopers from the NJSP Marine Services Bureau first were dispatched to the marsh but determined it would take too long to reach the victims. The NJSP Aviation Bureau then sent an aircrew, along with a flight nurse and paramedic, to the area. The pilot and TFO found the jet skiers approximately 200 feet from shore. They lowered the helicopter and maintained a hover just above the water. Each victim was able to climb directly into the helicopter.

The helicopter crew transported the victims to the Ocean City Airport, where they were medically treated and released. The flight crew was commended for the lifesaving rescue.

SOURCE: dailyvoice.com

Highlight Your Aviation Unit in Air Beat

Most articles you read in APSA’s Air Beat magazine come from members like you. With the help of our editorial staff, it’s easy to spotlight the great work of your aviation unit with an article in Air Beat. (It’s our editor’s job to make you look good, so don’t worry if you’re not a writer.) Whether your missions involve law enforcement, emergency medical transport, natural resource conservation, firefighting, or search and rescue, or if you operate helicopters, fixed-wing or unmanned platforms, we’d love to hear from you. Email Lisa Wright at airbeat@publicsafetyaviation.org for information.

New York State Aviation Assists on Rescue, Holds Joint Training

The New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation Unit held a joint training session with state forest rangers in late May, just days before helping the rangers rescue an injured hiker. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers joined NYSP Aviation and staff from the Green Mountain National Forest for the three-day training event to conduct virtual classwork and field exercises. Thirteen rangers completed the course, which covered aviation safety, aircraft capabilities and limitations, aviation life support equipment, aviation mishap reporting, pre-flight checklists, briefing/debriefing, aviation transportation of hazardous materials, crash survival, and helicopter operations, including water bucket drops.

On May 29, rangers requested assistance from an NYSP helicopter when a 41-year-old hiker was reported to have suffered an ankle injury on Bald Mountain. NYSP Aviation was requested due to the remote location, and the helicopter crew arrived on-scene and lowered a ranger to the hiker. The ranger assessed the man’s injury and prepared him for an aviation extraction. The hiker was transported to a local hospital for additional medical assistance.

SOURCE: www.newyorkupstate.com

Montana Resourses Helicopter Lands Hard While Responding to Fire

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) confirmed its helicopter was forced to make a hard landing while responding to the Deep Creek Fire on June 15. While returning to base, the aircraft experienced an unknown issue and went down, resulting in a fire upon landing. Video from a local media outlet showed flames and thick black smoke coming from the wreckage. No one was seriously injured in the incident.

The helicopter was carrying five DNRC personnel when it made the hard landing. All were able to safely exit the aircraft and were assessed by medical staff at two nearby hospitals. A Montana Highway Patrol Trooper witnessed the crash and responded immediately, helping the crew vacate the area. DNRC said it is still investigating the incident.

SOURCE: www.ktvh.com

Video: Michigan State Police use Thermal Imager to Find Toddler

A Michigan State Police helicopter crew required only several minutes to locate a missing toddler who had wandered away from his rural home in northern Michigan in early June. See video of the search and rescue here.

The Michigan State Police Aviation Unit and troopers from the Lapeer Post worked alongside Lapeer County Sheriff’s deputies on Memorial Day to locate the child, who is autistic. The boy had wandered away from his residence, and caregivers called 911. Trooper 2 located a heat signature in a wooded area about a half-mile from the residence and directed deputies, troopers, and a K-9 team to the area. The child was located unharmed. In all, he was missing for about two hours. Trooper 2 is equipped with state-of-the-art gear, including a forward-looking infrared system.

SOURCE: www.fox2detroit.com and www.wsgw.com

Maryland State Helicopter Pulls Patient From Cargo Ship

The Maryland State Police Aviation Command Trooper 6 crew rescued a patient from a cargo ship in the Chesapeake Bay on June 18. The helicopter was dispatched to perform an aerial hoist from the Laurence Francoise Breakbulk Carrier after the U.S. Coast Guard requested its assistance. The Trooper 6 crew configured for an aerial hoist operation while the pilots maneuvered the AW-139 into a steady hover position 50 feet above the 750-foot-long cargo carrier. The crew then lowered a trooper/rescue technician to the vessel’s deck to assess and prepare the patient for hoisting. Once the patient was secured inside the aircraft, Trooper 6 transitioned to its medevac role and provided advanced level medical care while delivering the patient to a nearby hospital.

SOURCE: www.thebaynet.com

U.K. Agency Donates UAS to Rescue Team

The U.K.’s Derbyshire Constabulary Drone Unit has donated an unmanned aircraft to the Buxton Mountain Rescue Team to help in searches for vulnerable or missing people. The department donated the DJI Mavic 2 Dual Drone on June 3. The mountain rescue team often operates alongside the local police and ambulance services, assisting in searches in difficult to access areas or adverse weather conditions.

“Drones help us in locating people in need of help, planning our response and identifying hazards,” Buxton Mountain Rescue Deputy Team Leader Rob Stordy said. “In February, we began an ambitious 18-month program to increase the team’s use of drones and, already this year, our current drones have lifted during six training exercises and four live incidents. These incidents included assisting in Moorland fires, steep ground rescues and medical emergencies…Now we have been gifted this drone that is equipped with a thermal camera and additional lighting, [and] our drone operations will no longer be held back by nightfall.”

SOURCE: www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk

Florida Sheriff's Deputies Locate Downed Plane With UAS

Deputies from the Collier County (FL) Sheriff’s Office used an unmanned aircraft system to locate a single-engine plane that crashed in Big Cypress National Reserve on June 8. Several other agencies responded to the downed aircraft, including the National Park Service and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. According to the Collier County Sheriff’s office, the downed aircraft had two people aboard, but neither the pilot nor passenger were injured. Both subjects were airlifted out of the preserve after the Collier County drone operators directed a rescue team to them.

SOURCE: news.yahoo.com 

Suffolk County Helicopter Crew Helps Find Bodies of Two Missing Men

The Suffolk County (NY) Police Aviation Section assisted in finding the bodies of two men who went fishing in the Long Island Sound and never returned in early June. The 36- and 60-year-old men had gone onto the water in a canoe from Makamah Beach in Fort Salonga and were reported missing about 12 hours later. Along with the Aviation Unit, searchers from the Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau, Huntington Harbormaster, U.S. Coast Guard and multiple fire departments joined the search for the men. Their bodies were found near Eatons Neck the morning after they disappeared. The cause of death was not revealed, and the investigation is ongoing.

SOURCE: www.nydailynews.com 

Add To Your Calendar: Upcoming Online Meeting Groups

APSA conducts regularly scheduled online meetings for safety officers, maintenance technicians, SAR and Natural Resources personnel, and UAS operators that you can join using your computer, mobile device or phone. To facilitate this, the UAS, Safety Officer and Maintenance Technician Meeting Groups meet once every two months, and the SAR Personnel and Natural Resources Meeting Groups meet quarterly.

These meetings are open to any APSA member. Contract maintenance providers to APSA members are welcome to participate in the maintenance meeting as well. To receive meeting information and be added to the mailing list, send an email to safety@publicsafetyaviation.org.

The schedule for upcoming APSA online meetings is as follows:
Safety Officers: Friday, July 16, 2021 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)
SAR: Wednesday, August 11, 2021 from 1:00–2:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)
Maintenance: Wednesday, August 25, 2021 from 1:00-2:00 pm EDT (1700 UTC)
UAS: Wednesday, September 8, 2021 from 1:00-2:00 pm EDT (1700 UTC)
Natural Resources: Wednesday, October 6, 2021 from 1:00-2:00 pm EDT (1700 UTC)

HAI Accepting Nomination for Annual Awards

Within vertical aviation, there are pilots, mechanics/engineers, safety professionals, and others who go above and beyond to pursue professional excellence. Their dedication is an inspiration to us all. The Helicopter Association International (HAI) is accepting nominations for its annual Salute to Excellence Awards program, which recognizes outstanding achievement in all forms of vertical aviation, including unmanned aircraft systems (UASs, or drones). Nominations can be submitted at rotor.org/salute before Sept. 30, 2021.

HAI has added the Matthew S. Zuccaro Land & LIVE Award beginning in 2022. The new award honors the former HAI president and CEO, who died in February 2020, for his steadfast advocacy for rotorcraft safety. After growing frustrated with the number of preventable helicopter accidents, Zuccaro challenged the industry to take advantage of the helicopter’s ability to land almost anywhere and utilize precautionary landings when flight conditions deteriorated. He sent a clear message that helicopter crews would never forget with his now-famous quote, “Flight not going well? When safety is at stake, land the damn helicopter!”

The new award recognizes outstanding aeronautical decision-making (ADM), crew resource management (CRM), or coordinated actions performed by a helicopter pilot(s), flight crew member(s), or maintenance personnel during the year. Depending on nominations received, the Matthew S. Zuccaro Land & LIVE Award may be presented to three recipients each year: one each for pilots, flight crews, and maintenance personnel.

To submit a nomination for the 2022 HAI Salute to Excellence Awards, go to www.rotor.org/salute and nominate an exceptional individual or organization. Award descriptions and criteria are available on the website, as well as additional information about the awards process. Anyone may submit a nomination, and anyone may be nominated. HAI membership is not required. The Salute to Excellence winners will be honored at HAI HELI-EXPO 2022 in Dallas, TX next March.

NTSB Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt Leaves Governmant Service

National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt ended his nearly 15 years at the NTSB, as he retired from government service on June 30. Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg will serve as the acting chairman until a new chair is confirmed by the Senate.

“The NTSB’s role is extremely important: by conducting thorough investigations, our work helps prevent accidents and crashes, reduces injuries, and saves lives,” said Sumwalt. “I’ve been honored to be part of this great agency, and to have served with the dedicated men and women of the NTSB.”

During his tenure at the NTSB, Sumwalt responded to 36 accident sites in all modes of transportation. In addition to leading the agency and advocating for the adoption of hundreds of safety recommendations the NTSB issues each year, Sumwalt made a concerted effort to ensure staff had investigative resources and supportive leadership at all levels to make the organization one of the best in the federal government.

“I am proud that, by working together, we have increased our standing in the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government’s annual rankings,” said Sumwalt. “Our employee engagement is at all all-time high, and our internal communications have never been stronger.”

Sumwalt came to the NTSB in August 2006 with his appointment as the 37th member of the agency, whereupon President George W. Bush designated him as vice chairman for a two-year term. President Barack Obama reappointed Sumwalt to an additional five-year term as a board member in November 2011. He was reappointed for another term by President Trump in 2017.

Before joining the NTSB, Sumwalt was a pilot for 32 years, including 24 years with Piedmont Airlines and US Airways, accumulating more than 14,000 flight hours. During his tenure at US Airways, he worked on special assignment to the flight safety department and served on the airline’s Flight Operational Quality Assurance monitoring team.

Source: NTSB

Plea Deal Reached for Man Pointing Laser at Denver Helicopter

A 23-year-old man indicted for pointing a laser at the Denver Police Department’s Air One helicopter reached a plea agreement last month: he pled guilty to simple assault of an aircraft. Under the plea agreement, the man will be sentenced to one year of probation, a $1,000 fine and 100 hours of community service.

On November 4, 2020, the aircrew was the target of a green laser pointed at the cockpit. The helicopter crew was monitoring protests during the incident. The aircrew reported the location of two men associated with the laser pointer, and ground officers found and detained them. One pilot reported being distracted and having to divert his eyes to avoid the laser. The second pilot reported distraction concerns because the helicopter was flying low and near tall buildings.

According to the FAA, pointing a laser pointer at an aircraft is a felony and could result in a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. The man faced up to five years in prison and the maximum fine of $250,000 before the plea agreement.

U.S. House Approves Notice to Airmen Improvement Act of 2021

The U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 1262, the Notice to Airmen Act of 2021. The legislation requires that the FAA establish a task force to recommend improvements for its pilot alert system. NOTAMs provide safety-critical flight information to individuals involved with flight operations and are delivered through a pilot alert system. These notices concern the establishment, condition, or change of any component in the National Airspace System (NAS) and alert pilots of abnormalities in the NAS such as hazards along the flight path, closed runways, or military exercises with resulting airspace restrictions. Although NOTAMs provide valuable information not known far in advance, they are often lengthy and convoluted and may be inaccurate or incomplete. The current presentation of NOTAMs puts pilots at a severe disadvantage when trying to quickly interpret essential flight information, thus compromising the safety of the aircraft.

The Notice to Airmen Improvement Act of 2021 creates a task force that will help prioritize critical information and improve the accuracy of NOTAMs. The task force will comprise representatives of air carriers, unions, and general and business aviation as well as experts in safety and human factors. Members of the task force will collaborate to recommend improvements to the NOTAMs, ensuring that the most important information is prioritized and that the notices are complete and accurate.

Enhancing the information provided to pilots, and ensuring that NOTAMs provide essential, real-time information about potential hazards, is a critical improvement long overdue. Read the full bill here. 

Georgia County Launches UAS Program With Seven Drones

Bulloch County (GA) Sheriff’s Office recently started an unmanned aircraft program that will assist deputies in looking for missing persons, manhunts, building searches and recreating crime scenes.

“We thought in a county as big as ours, with as much population as we have, a drone program would be helpful to our citizens and our mission of keeping the community safe,” said Lt. Greg Collins, who is supervising the program. Seven drones were purchased last November using seized drug funds and funds allocated from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). A neighboring county is using the same drones and Lt. Collins said the success that agency had in starting a drone program helped convince Sheriff Noel Brown and other officials that the county would benefit from its own program.

Two of the drones are equipped with FLIR technology, which will be particularly helpful in outdoor searches. “It’s another tool to help improve the way we do our job in serving the public, and it’s a great technology to have to partner with our boots on the ground,” said Collins.

Source: www.statesboroherald.com 

UK Rescue Helicopter Avoids Collision With Drone

Rescuers in the United Kingdom are warning drone pilots to fly sensibly after they had to avoid a collision between a drone and a rescue helicopter. The Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team said they had a “scary moment” that could have ended in disaster. A rescue was in progress, with a serious medical condition, and the victim was about to be hoisted off the mountainside when a drone was seen by one of the rescuers. The fear was that if the drone got too near the helicopter, it could have damaged its blades or even got sucked into a helicopter's air intake. It's one of several incidents emergency services have been dealing with recently.

Richard Greenwood of the Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team said, "The drone was at quite an altitude. It was off to the side of the helicopter, and what we were concerned about was that if they turned into the valley where the drone was, then that could have been a problem. But they were able to continue and pretty quickly, we were able to confirm that the drone was behind and above them."

The Civil Aviation Authority deals with drone flying and they say the rules are quite clear for people wanting to fly them. CAA’s Jonathan Nicholson commented, "They are sharing the airspace with other users and they have the responsibility to be safe and do the right thing. But in reality it's much easier for a drone user to see, spot and avoid something like a helicopter than it is the helicopter pilot. The responsibility is on the drone operator to do the right thing, especially if it is an emergency service helicopter."

Source: ITV News

Court Finds Baltimore Aerial Surveillance Unconstitutional

A federal appeals court on June 24 said the Baltimore (MD) Police Department’s use of an aerial surveillance plane was unconstitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed the lawsuit on behalf of activist leaders in Baltimore. The activists said they considered the ruling a historic victory. While the department discontinued the surveillance flights last October, data generated by the planes has still been in use. The 8-7 ruling prohibits police from using the airplane, but some of the 950,000 images captured have already been entered as evidence in criminal cases. “It should all be seen as the fruit of the poisonous tree and should not be used,” ACLU attorney David Rocah said.

The federal appeals court decided the surveillance plane amounted to a warrantless search and violated the Fourth Amendment. “Because the AIR program enables police to deduce from the whole of individuals' movements, we hold that accessing its data is a search, and its warrantless operation violates the Fourth Amendment,” Chief Judge Roger Gregory wrote in the decision.

Cameras on the surveillance planes captured the movement of residents in large swaths of Baltimore during daylight hours. Officials used the video to investigate violent crimes, including murders, nonfatal shootings, carjackings and armed robberies. Supporters argued the images depicted people as dots so they couldn't be identified. The Baltimore City solicitor sent a statement to local news outlets. “Although Baltimore is not, and has not been for many months, operating any form of aerial surveillance, we were disappointed to learn of the Fourth Circuit's closely divided opinion and will be evaluating our options,” the solicitor said.

SOURCE: www.wbaltv.com 

Public Safety Drone Expo: Full Preview Coming in Air Beat

Mark your calendars for the Airborne Public Safety Association’s fourth in-person Public Safety Drone Expo (PSDE) coming to Reno, NV, Oct. 18-22, 2021. The event will be held at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino and offer comprehensive education and training on public safety drone operations. APSA conducts the only dedicated expo for public safety drone operators, covering topics such as basic and advanced operations, management, safety, technology, tactics and regulatory matters.

This year’s PSDE event features expanded courses and a revised conference class lineup and schedule. For a full conference preview, see the July-August issue of Air Beat magazine at https://tinyurl.com/airbeatmagazine.

FAA Launches Voluntary Reporting Program for Safety Office

The FAA has launched an additional way for its engineers, safety inspectors, systems safety specialists and other aviation safety employees to report safety-related issues and concerns. Information shared and submitted via this new system will be used to validate or verify an aviation safety concern, identify the root cause, and determine the appropriate corrective action.

The Voluntary Safety Reporting Program provides those who work in the FAAʼs Aviation Safety organization the ability to report confidentially any safety concerns without fear of punitive action. The FAAʼs Aviation Safety workforce is composed of about 7,400 professionals who provide oversight of airlines, manufacturers, maintenance providers, aviation medical practitioners and flight crews.

“We can never be satisfied with the status quo when it comes to safety, and the free exchange of vital information is a cornerstone of safety and continual improvement,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. “We want our employees to know that when they speak up, they can be sure someone is listening.”

Since 1998, the risk of a fatal accident has decreased by 94 percent. Voluntary reporting programs have been integral to this reduction of risk by identifying and resolving issues before an accident occurs. The new Voluntary Safety Reporting System mirrors other successful safety information-sharing programs across the aviation industry. The new Voluntary Safety Reporting Program is in addition to several reporting programs already available.

In addition to supporting the FAAʼs commitment to transparency, the continued development of voluntary reporting programs addresses congressional requirements for the FAA. An open, non-punitive and confidential reporting system allows the agency to address safety sensitive issues that may otherwise have gone unnoticed due to fear of repercussion. The FAA order establishing the Voluntary Safety Reporting Program is available on the FAA website.

Source: FAA

APSA to Exhibit at Upcoming Drone Confrences

Going to AUVSI’s XPONENTIAL 2021 or the Commercial UAV Expo Americas 2021? If so, stop by the APSA booth and learn about what we’re is doing to support public safety drone operations, including the latest on APSA’s upcoming Public Safety Drone EXPO. You can find APSA Executive Director & CEO Dan Schwarzbach and Training Program Manager Don Roby in booth # 2131 at XPONENTIAL in Atlanta, August 17-19, and booth # 228 in Las Vegas, September 7-9, at Commercial UAV Expo Americas. Come on by!

APSA Welcomes New Members

APSA's networking, education and training opportunities are unique and specialized for public safety aviation. Let your colleagues and friends know about APSA. Thank you for your membership and helping APSA continue to grow. We would like to welcome the following corporate and individual members who joined during June 2021:

Corporate Members:

Astronics Max-Viz
Avionics Solutions, LLC
Brunner Aerospace, LLC
Dakota Air Parts Intl., Inc.
Rapid Imaging Technologies, LLC
Tiger Performance Products, Inc.

Individual Members:

Charles Bacon, Mint Turbines LLC (OK)
Stuart Barns, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office | Dublin
Jeremy Beatty, York (ON) Regional Police
Aaron Bjork, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office | Dublin
Kyle Blackmon, Beaufort County (SC) Sheriff's Office
Andrew Blalock, Fairfield (CA) Police Department
David Bonnell, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office | Dublin
Clint Bookout, Texas DPS (TX)
Justin Brannon, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office
William Brode, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (HI)
Suzanne Cain, CSXPD (GA)
Andrew Calore, Beaufort County (SC) Sheriff's Office
Sean Campbell, University of Kentucky Police Department (KY)
Leroy Champion, Fulton County (GA) Police Department
Hannah Clendenin, University of Kentucky Police Department (KY)
John Cornell, Lafayette (CA) Police Department
John Cota, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office | Oakland
Michael Culver, University of Kentucky Police Department (KY)
Derek Dagneau, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office | Dublin
Christopher Delima, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office | Oakland
Samuel Denvir, Near Space Corporation (OR)
Chris Devine, Civil Air Patrol, California Wing (CA)
Steven Dishion, University of Kentucky Police Department (KY)
Jason Dykstra, GMR (CA)
Jonathan Ellis, San Leandro (CA) Police Department
Moises Estrada, San Jose (CA) Fire Department
William Fenech, Civil Air Patrol (CA)
Anthony Fultz, University of Kentucky Police Department (KY)
Megan Gates, Board of Police Commissioners | Kansas City (MO)
Natalie Gillespie, St. Augustine (FL) Beach Police Department
Lennox Gooden, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (HI)
Capt. Jeremy Guidry, East Baton Rouge (LA) Parish Sheriff's Office
Justin Hilario, Alaska (AK) Department of Public Safety / Alaska State Troopers
Garth Howard, Civil Air Patrol (CA)
Mike Hymel, East Baton Rouge (LA) Sheriff's Office
Heather Johnson, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (HI)
Grady Jordan, Leon County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit
Andre Karpowich, NASA (FL)
Bryce Kehn, Washington State (WA) Patrol Aviation Unit
Jackie Knight, Texas (TX) Department of Public Safety
Gyaneh Krikorian, Pasadena (CA) Police Department Air Operations Section
Joseph Kuczka, Eureka (MO) Police Department
Eric Leeds, Independent Member
Daniel Lynch, Danville (CA) Police Department
Michael Machin , York (ON) Regional Police
Carl Makins, Charleston County (SC) Sheriff's Office
Dean Marcum, University of Kentucky Police Department (KY)
Vince Mascia, Airbus (TX)
Daryl Maudsley, NYPD (NY)
Robert (Mac) McKinley, University of Kentucky Police Department (KY)
Joseph Medina, NYPD (NY) Aviation Unit
Lance Meier, Texas Department of Public Safety (TX)
Blake Mican, Texas Department of Public Safety (Garland Duty Station) (TX)
William Murphy , Beaufort County (SC) Sheriff's Office
James Nakaso, Long Beach (CA)
Craig Newton, Civil Air Patrol (CA)
Marty Nicholes, Civil Air Patrol (CA)
Ben Olson, Minnesota State (MN) Patrol Flight Section
Jason Pierce, San Jose (CA) Police Department
Ken Pittman, Oklahoma (OK) Highway Patrol
Steven Pollock, Condon Donald F MD Office (WA)
Tyler Reed, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department | Wichita Falls (TX)
Scott Rome, Ontario (ON) Provincial Police
Miguel Romero, University of Kentucky Police Department (KY)
Zachary Samland, Clark County (IN) Sheriff's Department
Joe Slemko, Edmonton (AB) Police Service Flight Operations Unit
Ted Smith, Ontario (ON) Provincial Police
Olivia Steddom, University of Kentucky Police Department (KY)
Rudy Tafoya, Fresno (CA) Police Department Air Support Unit
Probyn Thompson, Air Probe UAV (NC)
Ray Trevino, San Jose (CA) Fire Department
Kenneth Walburn, Metro Nashville (TN) Police Department Aviation Unit
Christopher Witt, Independent Member