I saw an article but it doesn’t say if police are licensed drone operators under Part 107.
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Our department started with a C.O.A. back in 2016 but now they have all the LE pilots certified under Part 107.
Blair said:
Our department started with a C.O.A. back in 2016 but now they have all the LE pilots certified under Part 107.
Yeah, we require Part 107 too.
Blair said:
Our department started with a C.O.A. back in 2016 but now they have all the LE pilots certified under Part 107.
I got the COA for our agency, mostly for protection, but both me and the other pilot also got our 107s.
For all pilots to fly legally, they need to either be 107 certified or have FAA approval to certify pilots under their department. The second option involves submitting a training course to the FAA for approval, which makes it easier for officers to fly legally.
Police can be exempt if they have a Certificate of Authorization (COA) from the FAA. But most likely, they have 107 operators. It really depends on the department. If you really want to know, just ask them.
No, I used to be a cop, part of our drone team. We all had to get our 107s and stay compliant. We did have a waiver for flying beyond line of sight and things like that, but we couldn’t fly without the 107.
Things might have changed by now, but I doubt it.
@Sawyer
Was the beyond LOS a blanket waiver for a period of time? I wonder if it’s easier for all 107 pilots or just for government ones.
Blayne said:
@Sawyer
Was the beyond LOS a blanket waiver for a period of time? I wonder if it’s easier for all 107 pilots or just for government ones.
Honestly, I’m not sure. It wasn’t really my area.
@Sawyer
Got it, looks like I’m going to have to bring this up with our maintenance chief.
@Sawyer
I worked in state environmental enforcement. Even when you’re in government, you still need a 107 if you’re using a drone for work.
Police departments can be FAA compliant with certification. There’s a specific cert for them, but I can’t remember the name or number. They’re often exempt, just like how they can use their phone or computer while driving and say ‘I’m trained for this.’
@Kitt
It’s a CoA, which allows for broader use, like BVLOS.
They could be flying under a COA or have their 107s. No department is exempt from having one or both.
I know of a department that has a waiver to fly BVLOS under a COA, but it’s limited in scope. This was the first such waiver in the U.S.
@Lennon
I’ve flown under two BVLOS waivers for LE. One doesn’t even need a VO. They’re rare though, and the FAA isn’t quick to approve them.
Drones patrol Ross Township: Police use new tech for stop sign enforcement
‘One officer pilots the drone and watches the stop sign. If they spot a violator, they radio the officer in a patrol car nearby. The patrol officer then pulls over the car.’
@Blane
“Can we please have drones? We’ll be good, promise. It’s cold and I don’t want to leave my car.” What a ridiculous use of drones and public funds.
Rory said:
@Blane
“Can we please have drones? We’ll be good, promise. It’s cold and I don’t want to leave my car.” What a ridiculous use of drones and public funds.
There’s nothing ridiculous about it. It saves a lot of money and can be deployed quickly. A helicopter costs tens of thousands and takes much longer. A drone can get there before a patrol car and help law enforcement allocate resources better or clear out false calls.
But I have a feeling you don’t care about how your taxes are spent, if you even pay any.
Short answer? Yes.