1. York County Fire & Life Safety and York – Poquoson Sheriff’s Office R
York County Fire & Life Safety and York – Poquoson Sheriff’s Office R.O.V.E.R. Team (Remotely Operated Vehicles for Emergency Response)

2. The Beginning… We want to do it! We want to do it too! PVCC Course
Partnership…how can we help each other with this?
Approval of Co. Administrator and BoS Members

3. The Beginning (cont.) The FAA Certificate of Authorization (COA)
Must have an aircraft (purchased Phantom 4’s for ~$1250 each)
Started application process on a Thursday evening, received on Monday AM!
Blanket area COA for Class G only.
Team also has a COA for D and E airspace in York Co., Poquoson, Hampton, Newport News, James City, Williamsburg, and Gloucester (includes night flight and limited flights over persons).
Team member selection (half and half)

4. Training
Per our FAA Certificate of Authorization (COA) application “Pilot in Charge (PIC) will have completed 16 hours of classroom instruction on aeronautical knowledge as stated in 14 CFR as they pertain to sUAS operations in the NAS.”
York County contracted with Horizon Flight School to provide this training.

5. Training (cont.)
All team personnel are also FAA certified Remote Pilots (commercial UAS pilots).

6. Why COA and Part 107? COA is specifically for Public Safety flights
Part 107 is for commercial flights (Parks and Rec, GIS, etc.)
FAA certification that is currently the highest level possible (third party verification of training and knowledge to insurance carrier, public and county).
Allows other county needed/wanted flights

7. Current Capabilities 2 Phantom 4’s, 1 M600
Battery supply/charging for continuous/near continuous flight
Mobile flight stations with live video recording and streaming to secure site
UAS Operations Trailer (3 flight stations, command software station, protected battery charging area, extended WiFi, live streaming and recording, tether to external display and command center, SWAT robot ready)

8. Current Capabilities (cont.)
Phantom 4 (“Air 1 and 2”)
12 mega-pixel camera
Approximate VLOS distance of
1500’
Approximate cost $1,250 each

9. Current Capabilities (cont.)
M600 (“Air 3”)
Dual controls
FLIR (640x520, 13mm, Fast)
Z3 (3.5x optical, 2x digital zoom, 7x total)
Z30 (30x optical, 6 digital, 180x total)
Payload drop mechanism (rated at 15lbs.)
Anti-collision lighting on top and bottom
Approximate VLOS distance of 1 mile
Approximate cost of $40,000

10. Current Capabilities (cont.)
Payload Drop Ability
Rated at 15 pounds
Can carry ~10 pounds
Used to deliver a flotation device, rope, ammo magazines to a pinned down officer, cell phone/radio, medicine, hazmat monitoring devices, etc.

11. Capabilities (cont.) Flight Operations Trailer (”ROVER 1”)
3 Flight control stations and 1 computer work station
Video recording and streaming
Hard wire feed to external monitors and command centers
Verizon MiFi wireless internet
Extended range wireless internet antenna
Weather station
Mobile and portable radios
Battery charging cabinet
Rapid deployment mobile kits

12. Current Capabilities (cont.)

13. What have we used sUAS for so far?

14. Active Shooter Exercises

15. Search for Murder Suspect in York County, VA

16. Marina Fire in Henrico County, VA

17. Seafood Warehouse and 100’ Boat Fire in Hampton, VA

18. Search for Missing Child in Williamsburg, VA

19. Situational Awareness, York County, VA
M600 secured to roof for use as a high-powered security camera

20. Situational Awareness, York County, VA
Camera can operate for 5-6 hours on standard batteries if not flying

21. Hazmat Scenario
Z30 camera zoomed in on placard showing barrel contains a poison
FLIR camera showing any heat signatures indicative of chemical spill with reaction causing heat (arrow points to the barrel)

22. When the trees block your Visual Line Of Sight (VLOS) of the aircraft…improvise!

23. Future Additional aircraft M600 M200
Add’l Phantom 4’s to field vehicles (for quick response)
Disposable
Other UVs
ICOR Technology Mini-Caliber
Aquabot

24. Future (cont.)
An MOU with the VA Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) for Regional and Statewide response is pending, however, we have responded to four requests for assistance outside of the Tidewater for major fires and tornado damage assessment.

25. Who Else Has UAS in VA?
There are currently 31 known localities in Virginia operating, or working on, a UAS capability.

26. For more information go to: www.PublicSafetyUAS.org

27. Questions??? Chris Sadler, Assistant Fire Chief
Technical Services and Special Operations
York County Fire & Life Safety
(757)
Master Deputy Mike Russell
Crime Prevention Unit
York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office
(757)