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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 Registration Open; Join Us Next Month as We Celebrate 50+ Years of Training Excellence!

APSCON 2021, the Airborne Public Safety Association's 50th annual conference & exposition, will be conducted live and 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). 

Registration is open, so start making your plans for New Orleans this summer. Most all COVID restrictions have been lifted 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.

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 there and letting the good times roll!

June 14: APSA Hosts FAA Webinar Briefing for Law Enforcement Only

APSA will offer an FAA Law Enforcement Briefing (Remote ID and Counter UAS) Webinar-for U.S. law enforcement officers only-on June 14 from 1-2:30 pm. The FAA's Enforcement Division Legal Counsel will provide answers to some of the most common questions received from law enforcement, such as helpful types of evidence in FAA regulatory cases and the difference between Part 107 operators and recreational operators. Legal counsel will also provide a brief concerning current counter-UAS issues and the destruction of UAS. They will provide updates concerning recent FAA regulatory changes related to Remote ID, Operations over People, and Operations at Night. All attendees must be registered to participate.

If you are not a current APSA member and would like to join APSA to attend this webinar, click here or call our office at 301-631-2406 for assistance.

Next APSA Safety Stand-To-Headed to San Antonio

APSA is pleased to partner with the Texas Department of Public Safety to host a one-day Safety Stand-To in San Antonio, TX, on June 23. This training day will be conducted at the Bexar County Regional 911 Center. Registration is required but complimentary for APSA members. Instructors include Dudley Crosson and Bryan Smith. Please register or call the APSA office at (301) 631-2406 for more information.

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.

Have You Entered Air Beat Magazine's Photo Contest?

The 2021 Air Beat magazine photo contest is open for submissions until June 30, and we invite you to enter. Photographers can submit as many public safety aviation-related images they would like for a chance to win a GoPro HERO9 Black camera. The more photos each photographer submits, the greater their chances of winning. The grand prize will be awarded at the General Membership Meeting at APSCON 2021 in New Orleans, LA. The winner is not required to be present.

To be eligible to enter, the photographer must be an APSA member in good standing, and the photos must have a public safety aviation element (aircraft, crew, mission, training, etc.) and include a caption. Enter your best shots at www.airbeatmagazine.com before the end of the month. Please direct submission questions you may have to zack@wrightgrp.com.

Five Maryland State Police Aviation Personnel Recognized for Statewide Safety Efforts

Five members of the Maryland State Police Aviation Command were recently recognized for their efforts to promote safety during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic by the State Employees Risk Management Administration (SERMA). The three troopers and two civilian pilots were honored during SERMA's two-day virtual conference, which recognized more than a dozen employees from state agencies.

Corporal Kristie Peterson, a nationally registered paramedic who has been a sworn member of the Maryland State Police for nine years, received the Unsung Hero Award for her dedication to the department's Aviation Life Support Equipment program. Pilots Philip Haskins and Keith Blanton (pictured), along with Troopers First Class Christopher Aycock and Jaclyn Pickett, received the Award of Heroism for their rescue of a critically injured logger on April 2, 2020. The helicopter crew, assigned on the Frederick Section Trooper 3 detail, responded to a remote area in Fulton County, PA, and hoisted the injured logger 216 feet from a densely wooded area in nearly inaccessible terrain.

SOURCE: www.smnewsnet.com 

Ventura County Receives Two New Firehawk Helicopters

The Ventura County (CA) Fire Department recently took delivery of two previously ordered helicopters. "We are now tripling our water dropping capabilities with the addition of these two Firehawk helicopters," said Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen during a news event at the Camarillo Airport in late May. The blue-and-yellow Firehawks will serve the fire department and Ventura County Sheriff's Office, providing police, fire, and search and rescue support.

The new helicopters were formerly Sikorsky Black Hawk military aircraft used by the Army National Guard. United Rotorcraft converted the twin-engine aircraft to Firehawks with state-of-the-art avionics, high-definition cameras, thermal cameras, searchlights and attached water tanks with retractable snorkels, among other upgrades. The helicopters each cost about $1.7 million and were purchased from the federal General Services Administration as military surplus, Lorenzen said. With the conversion work, the county spent about $8.5 million on each aircraft, he said. Funds came from fire department reserves, where money has been saved for capital improvements.

SOURCE: www.vcstar.com 

Nashville Police Helicopter Struck With High-Powered Laser

A man allegedly pointed a "military-grade laser" into the cockpit of a Metropolitan Nashville (TN) Police Department helicopter in mid-May, placing the flight crew in danger of blindness and a crash, according to an arrest warrant. Police said they were conducting flight operations in the department's Air One to assist officers on the ground with a street racing initiative. The warrant stated Air One was "lased multiple times" with "a powerful green military-grade laser," which had an effective range of 10 miles.

The helicopter pilots informed officers on the ground the laser was coming from an apartment. The ground personnel located a 43-year-old man still holding a 5,000-milliwatt laser at the location. When questioned by police, the man admitted to shining the laser into the police helicopter, which was about 1,000 feet off the ground at the time. The pilots were able to land the helicopter safely, and no injuries were reported. The suspect was arrested on two counts of felony reckless endangerment and two counts of assault with a laser pointer. His bond was set at $13,000.

SOURCE: www.wkrn.com 

Man Arrested After Pointing Laser at NJ Police Helicopter

A man was arrested recently for pointing a laser at a New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit helicopter assisting with a missing persons search. Aviation troopers flying over Burlington County saw someone on the ground pointing a laser at their helicopter and quickly spotted the suspect getting into a vehicle in the area where the laser originated, police said.

The two troopers alerted ground officers of the suspect's location as they watched him drive onto the Garden State Parkway. Officers soon stopped the suspect's vehicle and the 32-year-old man admitted to pointing a laser at the aircraft. The man was arrested, charged and released waiting a court date. Federal charges are also pending.

There were 6,852 reported laser incidents nationwide including 66 in New Jersey in 2020, according to the FAA. There have been 1,337 laser strikes nationwide and 8 reported in New Jersey so far in 2021.

SOURCE: www.pressofatlanticcity.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:

Natural Resources: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 from 1:00-2:00 pm EDT (1700 UTC)

UAS: Wednesday, July 7, 2021 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)

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)

California Sheriff's Office Helps Rescue Five Hikers in Three Incidents

The Riverside County (CA) Sheriff's Department Aviation Unit Rescue 9 team participated in three separate rescues in early May. The third incident was in response to an injured hiker who was eventually airlifted to a nearby hospital.

The Palm Springs Police Department requested the sheriff's department's assistance following reports that someone was heard calling for help. Two department helicopters responded, and the first found the man on his back flashing a light in a mountainous area. Officials said the man wasn't on a trail and had no water.
Rescue 9 responded to the scene with the necessary equipment to hoist the man out of his position at about 1,350 feet. The man was then flown directly to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Riverside County Sheriff's Department Spokesman Sergeant Lionel Murphy said additional information about the rescue could not be provided.

SOURCE: www.desertsun.com 

NSW Police Aviation Issues Warning After Laser Strike Spike

The New South Wales (NSW) Police Force Aviation Command in Australia recently reported about a dozen laser strikes had been aimed at its PolAir helicopters and other aircraft around Sydney in a matter of weeks. In one incident in late April, a police aircraft was targeted three separate times from a single backyard just after midnight. The crew alerted ground officers, who found and arrested the perpetrator a short time later. The man was charged with intent to prejudice the safety of an aircraft. The department will allege in court that one of its tactical flight officers, a 41-year-old senior constable, suffered temporary blurred vision and discomfort following the incident.

In response to the spate of incidents, the NSW Police Force Aviation Command issued a stern public warning, reminding citizens it is an offense to aim a laser pointer at an aircraft or use one in a public place without a reasonable excuse. Laser pointers with a power level greater than one-milliwatt are classified as a prohibited weapon and require a permit through the Firearms Registry. "At no distance and in no circumstance is it safe to point a laser at aircraft," Aviation Commander Detective Superintendent Brad Monk said. "The laser beams can impair the eyesight of those on board and endanger the lives of the crew and the public." Monk encouraged more reporting of laser strikes on aircraft, adding that not all incidents are reported to police. "If you"re caught breaking the law, we will find you and you’ll be prosecuted," he said. "Remember, we have a bird"s-eye view from the air and can easily identify where a laser beam is coming from."

SOURCE: 7news.com.au 

Pentagon Report Clears Use of Two DJI Drone Models For Government Use

Two drone models, Mavic Pro and the Matrice 600 Pro, made by China's largest manufacturer were cleared for use by a Pentagon audit, according to a report summary released last month. An analysis of the two Da Jiang Innovations (DJI) drones built for government use found "no malicious code or intent" and are "recommended for use by government entities and forces working with US services," the summary said. The remainder of the report, dated May 6, remains classified. 

The U.S. Department of Interior temporarily grounded its fleet of more than 500 DJI drones in January 2020 over cyber security concerns. The report comes following rising concerns about the security of DJI and Chinese technology more broadly. DJI maintains no data is transferred from its products to either the Chinese government or the company itself.

"This U.S. government report is the strongest confirmation to date of what we, and independent security validations, have been saying for years - DJI drones are safe and secure for government and enterprise operations," DJI spokesperson Adam Lisberg said. DJI was added to the Commerce Department’s "entity list" late last year, effectively blacklisting the company. The Justice Department also banned the use of agency grants last year to purchase drones from foreign companies deemed a threat.

There is a massive bipartisan U.S. Innovation and Competition Act underway that includes the American Security Drone Act. The bill would prohibit the federal government from purchasing drones manufactured by countries deemed to be a threat to the United States.

Source: The Hill

Washington State Patrol Helps Test Protective Eyewear

Researchers at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Washington State Patrol aviators recently tested new eyewear designed to protect pilots against laser strikes. Most laser eye protection filters out green or red light, the colors most commonly used in handheld lasers. But according to FAA studies and years of experience, the protective lenses can change pilots' ability to accurately read their instrument control panel. A 2019 FAA report suggested the problem might be fixed by changing control panel lighting. AFRL's solution, known as CALI or Commercial Aviation Low Intensity, avoids the requirement by filtering out laser light but not instrument panel light.

AFRL administrators said the testing by the Washington State Patrol pilots was successful. "Simply put, the lenses maximize protection while minimizing the impact to the cockpit," said Matthew Lange, head of the Personnel Protection Team in AFRL's Materials and Manufacturing Directorate.

SOURCE: www.afmc.af.mil 

ALEA Helicopter Extracts Injured Horseback Rider From Park

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Aviation Unit airlifted an injured horseback rider out of Oak Mountain State Park on May 7 after the man fell on one of the park's trails. Pelham police officers and firefighters responded after receiving reports a male rider had suffered a leg injury when his horse was spooked and threw him. The rider's injury was not life threatening.

Responders first called the Pelham Fire Department Special Operations Team to conduct a technical rescue. However, the ALEA helicopter was required because the injured rider was far down a riding trail. The helicopter hoisted the rider from the accident location and landed a short distance away. The victim was then taken by ambulance to a local hospital. The horse was later found and in good condition. Pelham officials said they were thankful for their ongoing partnership with ALEA and its aviation team.

SOURCE: www.al.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.

Tennessee Town Seeks Three UAS for Police, Fire

The City of Oak Ridge in Tennessee is in the process of buying three unmanned aircraft systems for the Oak Ridge Police Department and Oak Ridge Fire Department. The departments intend to use the drones to minimize risks to emergency responders, according to a city memo. They might also deploy the UAS on missing person searches or for aerial observation and intelligence collection, the memo said.

The city has approved a roughly $57,000 contract with Rocky Mountain Unmanned Systems LLC for the three UAS. Training will be provided and include the fundamentals of aviation, Federal Aviation Regulations, public aircraft operations, safety management systems, community concerns about the use of drones by government agencies, state and local laws, and legal and liability issues, the city memo said. The city expects to cover the purchase price of the drones, accessories and training using grant funds provided by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Oak Ridge Police Department Police Response Enhancement grant. The equipment was pre-approved by DOE grant officials, the city memo said.

SOURCE: www.oakridgetoday.com  

Maryland State Police Rescues Stranded Boater

The Maryland State Police (MSP) Aviation Unit helped rescue a stranded boater who had run aground in shallow water in early May. Shortly before 7 p.m. on May 1, MSP's Trooper 1, based at Martin State Airport, was dispatched to Susquehanna Flats in Cecil County. The initial call was received from the U.S. Coast Guard, which had vessels in the area that were unable to reach the victim.

The Trooper 1 helicopter crew launched, arrived on-scene and began searching for the stranded boater. The crew located the vessel after the boat operator lit a flare. The Trooper 1 helicopter crew configured for an aerial hoist operation and maneuvered the AW-139 into a steady hover position 80 feet above the stranded vessel. A trooper/rescue technician was lowered, secured the victim in a screamer suit and was drawn back to the helicopter. The Trooper 1 medical crew then verified the patient was not injured and transported the victim to a location to be reunited with family.

SOURCE: www.verticalmag.com  

Rotorcraft Community Launches Collaborative Safety Program

International rotorcraft safety organizations, regional safety teams, and other global safety stakeholders are pleased to announce the establishment of the Vertical Aviation Safety Team (VAST). In cooperation and collaboration with the worldwide vertical flight community, VAST aims to achieve a vision of zero fatal accidents, providing "Safety Above All." In pursuit of that vision, VAST will use a data-informed, consensus-based approach to better harmonize, coordinate, and implement global safety information, resources, and programs, and to support regional safety efforts.

The international vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) industry includes many groups working to reduce accidents, including regional safety teams, industry safety organizations, businesses and associations with safety components to their missions, as well as the individual operators, pilots, maintenance professionals, and others who work daily to mitigate the inherent risks of aviation. The International Helicopter Safety Team and, later, the International Helicopter Safety Foundation previously represented these global safety stakeholders.

Regional safety teams will continue to lead safety initiatives in their respective areas. The role of VAST is to engage with those teams and other safety stakeholders to integrate, harmonize, distribute, and promote the resulting safety data, programs, and recommendations worldwide, reducing duplicative efforts and enabling more efficient use of resources. Several VAST working groups will oversee the organization’s efforts in areas such as technology, regulations, and safety promotion.

VAST represents the combined voices of the worldwide rotorcraft community. Its operations are overseen by two advisers: James Viola, President and CEO of Helicopter Association International, and Miguel Marin, Chief Operational Safety, at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Their advisory role will help VAST meet its objectives building on industry best practices and the latest international standard developments.

"VAST, like other Safety teams, are proven initiatives to reduce accidents on a global level," says Marin. "Bringing the international industry and regulator community together will create a consistent program striving to make the global rotorcraft community as safe as possible."

Source: HAI

U.K.'s Warwickshire Police Obtain Two UAS

The Warwickshire (U.K.) Police have obtained two unmanned aircraft systems to help fight crime in the countryside. Two officers and three additional personnel from the force"s rural crime team have been training to use the two UAS, purchased by local authorities in North Warwickshire, Stratford and Warwick. The department expects to use the drones on dedicated operations, patrols and responses to incidents, assisting the rural crime team in addressing offenders targeting rural communities. The department said all deployments would be in line with guidance from the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority and for policing purposes only. The UAS are part of a larger improvement effort on the part of the rural crime team; the division also recently created a team to address off-road vehicles.

 SOURCE: www.leamingtonobserver.co.uk 

Michigan State Police Helicopter Helps Find Missing Man

The Michigan State Police Aviation Unit assisted the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in a multi-agency search for an angler reported missing on May 17. Conservation Officer Cole VanOosten received the initial call for the missing fisherman when the 64-year-old failed to meet up with his fishing partner. VanOosten and Conservation Officer Colton Gelinas kayaked the river on which the man was believed to be, but the search was postponed. The Michigan State Police helicopter later joined the search and found the man within 20 minutes. Ground officers used the angler's GPS coordinates to reach the victim, who was dehydrated and happy to see the rescuers. The officers then carried the man to safety.

SOURCE: www.shorelinemedia.net

Third Enstrom 480B Delivered to Botswana Police

The Atlanta Police Department Aviation Unit was assisting on a search for a missing 6-year-old boy in late May when it was targeted with a laser pointer. The search had been going on for more than five hours when the laser attack occurred. The incident resulted in an arrest of the man accused of targeting the helicopter crew with a laser. The pilot said his night vision device was hampered when the suspect began targeting the aircraft with the green light. The pilot was able to direct officers on the ground to the suspect’s home, where he was arrested. APD posted the video footage on Twitter. 

"At the location, the officers contacted the suspect, who admitted pointing a laser at the aircraft," a department press release said. "A laser pointer device was taken as evidence." The man was detained in a squad car before he was released on a copy of his charges of using a laser against a law enforcement officer and aircraft.

SOURCE: www.ajc.com 

Nassau PD Helicopter Crew Helps Rescue 83-Year-Old Woman

A Nassau County (NY) Police Department helicopter crew helped locate an 83-year-old Long Island woman missing for more than 24 hours in late April. The woman, who suffers from a cognitive disorder, was shopping with her husband when she wandered away. While the community distributed missing person flyers, the aviation crew deployed and located the 100-pound woman lying in a ravine in a wooded area.

The aircrew directed ground troops to the victim, who was sleeping with her hands across her chest. "I thought as though she's going to pass out, so I grab her, I lay down, and I hoist her up over me," Sergeant Kevin Vargas said. "The officer behind me grabs her, and like a chain, they go to the other two officers on the other side of the fence. We lift her up, put her down, and God bless, for an 83-year-old, she's very strong." The woman suffered no injuries during the incident.

SOURCE: www.abc7ny.com  

Minnesota Law Enforcement Confronting New UAS Transparency Law

Minnesota's largest law enforcement agencies are ramping up use of unmanned aircraft, and a new state law is set to ensure the public knows more about the technology's use. The law mandates that agencies submit an annual report on UAS operations, costs and whether search warrants are obtained for flights. The legislation also requires law enforcement agencies to publish drone policies on their websites. "We tried to stay above board and be very transparent," said Major Jeff Storms of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. "Our biggest fear was having something taken away from us that has been so useful."

Multiple state legislatures have intensified their focus on how law enforcement agencies use UAS technology in recent years, be it for monitoring hostage situations or investigating routine car crashes. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has received reports from 106 law enforcement agencies detailing their 2020 drone inventory and use across the state, Bureau Spokesperson Jill Oliveira said. Officials are in the process of verifying the reports and making sure they are compliant with the law.

SOURCE: www.startribune.com  

Virginia State Police Aviation Medic Wins Nursing Award

The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) has awarded Flight Nurse Kevin Kissner the BCEN 2021 Distinguished Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) Award. Based in Richmond, VA, Kissner is part of VCU Health's LifeEvac team, which provides air and ground ambulance services across Virginia, as well as the Virginia State Police Aviation Unit’s Med-Flight I team.

The annual BCEN award recognizes one top board-certified flight nurse who exemplifies excellence in flight nursing and a strong commitment to supporting and advocating for flight nursing specialty certification. Introduced by BCEN in 1993, the CFRN is held by more than 4,800 registered nurses and advanced practice nurses. "Kevin’s commitment to his specialty and his remarkable work as a VCU Health flight nurse supporting Virginia State Police and its Med-Flight I showcases how board-certified flight nurses contribute to exceptional patient care, public service and the advancement of clinical excellence," BCEN CEO Janie Schumaker said.

 SOURCE: www.airmedandrescue.com 

Louisville Man Sentenced After Pointing Laswer During Social Protests

Manuel Salazar-Leija Jr. was sentenced to two years of probation, including eight months of home incarceration, last month. Federal officials said Leija aimed the beam of a laser pointer at a Louisville Metro Police helicopter on Sept. 25, 2020 as Breonna Taylor protests were happening around the city. District Court Judge David Hale also ordered Leija to pay a $2,500 fine and the costs of his home incarceration.

Source: whas11.com  

Newly Established Ghana Poice Air Wing Awaiting Helicopters

Ghana Police Service Inspector General James Oppong-Boanuh announced the establishment of an aviation division in late May. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the three-day National Police Command Conference, Oppong-Boanuh said the department has completed construction on a new hangar and is awaiting the arrival of helicopters promised by government. He indicated the new aviation division has been in the works since 2019, when the Ghana government promised to procure three aircraft. At least six Ghana Police Service officers have undergone aviation and flight training in South Africa to form part of the aviation division. The new hangar will accommodate up to four helicopters.

SOURCE: www.myjoyonline.com 

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 March 2021:

Corporate Members:

H.E.R.O.S., Inc.
Precision Heli-Support
WorldCast Systems
Tactical Tubing, LLC
Janteq Corporation

Individual Members:

Dillon Barnes, Kansas (KS) Highway Patrol
Glenn Behnke, CSX Police Department (PA)
Gregory Bishop, Harrison (MS) County Sheriff's Office
Lewis Bowman, UNCC Police Department (NC)
Matthew Bridgefarmer, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department | Austin (TX)
Jerred Brown, Sacramento (CA) Police Department
Scott Burgess, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (TX)
Lynn Burttschell, Washington County (TX) EMS Aviation Division
Anthony Campbell, Town of Cary (NC)
Lisa Christiansen, Tulare County (CA) Sheriff's Department
Gaylord Combs, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (TX)
Scott Cox, Tulare County (CA) Sheriff's Department
Jared Cripe, Kansas (KS) Highway Patrol
Jake Daniels, Tulare County (CA) Sheriff's Department
David Danielson, Los Angeles (CA) Fire Department
Justin Day, Laguna Beach (CA) Fire
Kevin Doucet, Flower Mound Police Department (TX)
Diana Draehn, Washington County (TX) EMS Aviation Division
Kevin Fayard, Harrison County (MS) Sheriff's Office
Trapper Goltz, South Dakota (SD) Game, Fish and Parks
Eric Green, Grapevine (TX) Fire Department
Adam Griggs, Lake Travis (TX) Fire Rescue
Kent Guidry, Humble Police Department (TX)
David Hargrave, Reeves County (TX) Emergency Services District Nos 1 & 2
Mark Harper, Dallas (TX) Police Department
Joshua Hawley, Livingston Parish (LA) Sheriff's Office
David Hayunga, Drug Enforcement Administration (TX)
Brandon Hendry, Harrison County (MS) Sheriff's Office
Shawn Hermosillo, Tulare County (CA) Sheriff's Department
Raul Hernandez, Austin-Travis County (TX) EMS
Sage Hill, Kansas (KS) Highway Patrol
Michael Hill, Cumulus Technologies, Inc. (TX)
Justin Hobbs, Flower Mound Police Department (TX)
Kevin Johnson, Orange County (FL) Sheriff's Office
Mikel Kane, Austin-Travis County (TX) EMS
Richard Key, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department | Wichita Falls (TX)
Joseph Kieft, Los Angeles (CA) Police Department Air Support Division
David Krause, Influential Drones (NJ)
Paul Lakin, Oklahoma (OK) Highway Patrol
James Lantz, Maryland (MD) State Police
Casey Latislaw, San Diego County (CA) Sheriff's Department Aerial Support Detail
Nicholas Lybrand, Dallas (TX) Police Department (Headquarters)
Gary Marks, Tulare County (CA) Sheriff's Department
Ricky May, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department | San Angelo (TX)
Brandon McMillan, Kansas (KS) Highway Patrol
Jose Mendez, Town of Cary (NC)
Caleb Merrell, Washington County (TX) EMS Aviation Division
Scott Morgan, DEA (TX)
Steve Morris, Las Vegas (NV) Metro Police Air Support / SAR
James Nguyen, Dallas (TX) Police Department
Josh Obar, Fresno County (CA) Sheriff's Office
John Orton, Civil Air Patrol (NM)
Markus Oster, Indiana State (IN) Excise Police
Andrew Palmer, Dallas (TX) Police Department
Stephanie Parks, Harrison County (MS) Sheriff Office
Mark Penney, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (ON)
Zachary Pierce, Pima County (AZ) Sheriff's Dept.
Fred Pitcher, Georgetown (TX)Police Department
Steven Pollock, Condon Donald F MD Office (WA)
Steve Rice, New Hanover County (NC) Sheriffs Office
Edwin Robertson, Prince George's County (MD) Police Department
Steve Robson, Broward County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit
RL Rushing, Dallas (TX) Police Department
James Schmittle, Tulare County (MD) Sheriff's Department
Nealy Scott, Gwinnett County (GA) Police Department Aviation Unit
Robert Sessions, Polk County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit
Jamey Shipler, Grapevine Fire Department (TX)
Nick Simms, Pinellas County (FL) Sheriff’s Office
Andrew Smith, United States Marshals Service (DC)
Ross Stinson, Dallas (TX) Police Department
Kody Wallace, Grapevine Fire Department (TX)
Michael Ward, New Jersey State Police (NJ)
Paul Wright, Polk County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit