Excerpts from EmergencyManagement.com:
Naperville’s drone is on track to provide backup for the city’s [emergency personnel].
One … was purchased for the fire department in April, but the agency isn’t yet able to put it into use. Andrew Dina, fire department bureau chief, reported last week that paperwork is in process to bring the city the required certificate of authority (COA) that will clear the way for trained operators to begin using the $1,200 device. Dina said the authorization should come through by mid-September.
“Following a successful period of training and an FAA visit to evaluate our systems and procedures, the Fire Department will move forward toward obtaining an operational COA which would allow us to operate the [drone] in and around the city of Naperville,” Dina said in a memo, adding that a trained Illinois state police coordinator has agreed to help the department get the program underway.
Also in process is development of a local policy governing use of [drones]. City attorneys now are reviewing the existing state police program, and a proposed policy for Naperville will be presented to the city council once they have finished looking over those documents, Dina said.
thanks Dan
