Skyfire Increases Officer and Community Safety Through New Drone as First Responder Program

On Dec. 16, Skyfire Consulting announced it has launched a robust and comprehensive Drone as First Responder (DFR) program — a means by which the deployment of drones enhances response to emergency situations and adds an element of safety for public safety agencies and the community. DFR programs aim to decrease response times, provide situational awareness and increase efficiency.

Skyfire is a pioneer in supporting DFR programs. In 2019, working on behalf of the Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) with support of the City of San Diego, Skyfire became the first consultancy to help obtain FAA approval for the nation’s first active emergency response Certificate of Authorization (COA) with a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) provision for public safety as part of the FAA’s IPP program. This certification allowed CVPD to operate drones within the nation’s first and only DFR program within a 40-square-mile area, more than 10 times the previous coverage area.

“DFR programs like Chula Vista’s have proven to be a much more streamlined way to ensure drone coverage over active incidents,” said Matt Sloane, Skyfire founder and CEO. “In our effort to always stay ahead of technology and regulations, we look forward to helping many more agencies adopt these types of programs and keep both responders and citizens safe.”

With its new DFR program offering, Skyfire continues its goal of improving the lives of first responders and the safety of the public by providing agencies guidance and support towards every detail needed to get a DFR program off the ground.