Aloft Introduces Automated SGI Waivers in Aloft Air Control, Streamlining Access to Restricted Airspaces

 Aloft Technologies, Inc. (Aloft), a leader in advanced drone software solutions, is thrilled to announce the integration of Automated Special Government Interest (SGI) Waivers into its Aloft Air Control platform. This new feature is set to revolutionize how drone operators access restricted airspaces, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and compliance with federal regulations.

Automated SGI waivers are available today for all Aloft Air Control enterprise customers.

The Automated SGI Waivers functionality simplifies the complex and time-consuming process of obtaining necessary permissions for drone operations in sensitive or restricted areas. This development reflects Aloft’s ongoing commitment to innovation and its dedication to supporting the operational needs of its clients across various industries, including public safety, emergency response, and infrastructure inspection.

Jon Hegranes, CEO and Founder of Aloft, commented on the new feature, saying, “We understand the critical nature of time-sensitive operations, especially in scenarios that involve public safety and emergency responses. Integrating Automated SGI Waivers into Aloft Air Control not only streamlines the approval process but ensures that our clients can deploy their drones quickly and legally, even in the most restricted airspaces. This capability is about empowering our users to focus more on their mission-critical tasks and less on bureaucratic hurdles.”

The Automated SGI Waivers are designed to interact seamlessly with existing features within the Aloft Air Control ecosystem, providing a comprehensive solution for airspace management that includes pre-flight planning, real-time traffic alerts, and post-operation analysis. This integration ensures a smooth, intuitive user experience and upholds the highest safety and compliance standards.

Key benefits of the Automated SGI Waivers include:

-Reduced Approval Times: Drastically cuts down the waiting period for gaining airspace access, facilitating rapid response and operational readiness.

-Enhanced Compliance: Ensures that all drone flights are compliant with current FAA regulations, minimizing legal risks and enhancing public safety.

-Streamlined Operations: Integrates with the overall flight management system to provide a unified workflow from planning to execution.

This innovative feature is expected to set a new benchmark for operational efficiency in drone technology, reflecting Aloft’s role as a pioneer in the industry. With one click, users can transform an existing mission in Aloft into an auto-generated SGI form ready to email to the FAA’s SOSC Office.

For more information about Automated SGI Waivers and Aloft Air Control, please email sales@aloft.ai or contact your Aloft customer success representative.

About Aloft Technologies, Inc.:
Aloft Technologies, Inc. specializes in developing advanced drone software solutions, empowering businesses and government entities to manage their drone operations with enhanced efficiency, safety, and compliance. Based in Syracuse, NY, Aloft continues to lead the way in airspace and fleet management technology. Aloft’s UTM network and Air Control platform is utilized by hundreds of government and public safety agencies.

EMMU Aerial LLC Updated Blog and Website

Checkout EMMU Aerial's newly updated webpage and blog. EMMU Aerial, providing drone / UAS training and services for public safety agencies and the insurance industry.

With more than 20 years’ experience, EMMU Aerial provides public safety agencies and the insurance industry with drone / UAS training and services for search and rescue, law enforcement, firefighting, disaster response, claims inspection, damage assessment and more throughout the U.S.

Today EMMU Aerial is at the forefront of a technological and operational change, focused on reinventing the way we work and look at the world. EMMU Aerial specializes in elevating our customer’s needs with our flagship programs training courses;

• Developing a Public Safety UAS Program
• Public Safety Drone Training
• Water Search and Rescue Drone Training
• Insurance Industry Drone Training
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Training

Thanks for being so loyal to this one. 

Drones for Public Safety Operations Course September 15-17, 2023

 

Rowan Cabarrus Community College (RCCC) in conjunction with Blue Ride Mountain Drones and EMMU Aerial is proud to announce our Drones for Public Safety Operations Course September 15-17, 2023 at:

RCCC North Campus 1333 Jake Alexander Blvd. Salisbury North Carolina      

Drones allow public safety organizations to augment their ground public safety teams and move beyond their vehicles in order to execute aerial search and rescue missions, provide improved situational awareness, assist with exposure reduction and provide mapping capabilities more efficiently. This is a three-day public safety drone training course with 1 day classroom and 2 days situational field / flight training. Students will gain knowledge and practical experience in pre-planning, incident management, mission planning, scene management, drone platforms and payloads, software, safe drone operations, drone search and rescue missions, mapping, thermal imaging, and night operations. Learn to successfully fly SAR missions and other supporting missions. The course will enable the students to identify clearly their own limitations as well as those of the equipment, so that they will be able to utilize drones safely and effectively.    

 Prerequisites:

• FAA Part 107 or public agency COA certification
• Basic flight experience – 5 hours of flying
• Completion of FEMA IS-100, 200 and 700 
• Agency approval to attend course. 
• One drone for every three students

Registration is available online; RCCC Online Registration

Drones in the Insurance Industry Course, October 27-28 in Melbourne, FL.

EMMU Aerial Is happy to introduce its new Drones in the Insurance Industry Course, October 27-28 in Melbourne, FL. The course was developed and designed to be taught in a two-day format. With 1/2-day classroom and 1 1/2 days situational field / flight training, where students already have a FAA Part 107 with basic flight knowledge and experience. Students gain knowledge and practical experience in pre-planning, mission planning, scene management, UAS platforms and payloads, software, safe UAS operations, residential and commercial claims inspection, initial damage assessment techniques and data processing. The course will enable the students to identify clearly their own limitations as well as those of the equipment, so that they will be able to utilize UASs more safely and effectively. Register here: emmuaerial.com

Who should attend?

The course is designed for Insurance carriers, underwriters, adjusting firms, insurance adjusters, and others whose job assignment is in an area where the requirement for insurance claims inspection exists. The course is also helpful for state, local, tribal, and territorial government officials responsible to collect, validate, quantify, and document the cause, location, and details of damage following a disaster.

If your organization would like to host one of our courses, reach out to us today. Our hosting program makes it easy and economical for you to bring one of our training programs to your community. Choose a program that best suits the training needs of your agency or team and the teams of the surrounding area. Call us with several dates that would fit the schedule of your team. We will send you the paperwork and publicize your program in print and on our Web Site.

There will also be a FAA Part 107 RPIC training course on October 25-26 if interested.

EMMU Aerials Public Safety and Insurance Industry Drone / UAS Training and Services

 

EMMU Aerial provides public safety agencies and the insurance industry with drone / UAS training and services for search and rescue, law enforcement, firefighting, disaster response, claims inspection, damage assessment and more throughout the U.S.

4 rescued from Yellowstone River near Billings

Emergency response teams in Billings joined forces in a highly effective multi-agency water rescue operation, resulting in the safe recovery of four individuals on Sunday night. This collaborative effort demonstrated the exceptional coordination and utilization of advanced technology to respond to water emergencies.

On July 9, 2023, emergency services responded to a distress call reporting a water emergency involving multiple individuals in the Yellowstone River near South West Billings at 8:59 p.m. The Billings Fire Department, the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office, AMR, and additional fire units swiftly arrived at the scene, ready to provide assistance.

The incident commander immediately initiated a well-coordinated response, with each agency utilizing their specialized resources and expertise. The Billings Fire Department's drone team played a critical role in the operation by deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with an infrared (IR) camera. The IR technology proved invaluable in locating the stranded victims, even in challenging conditions of darkness.

In the first phase of the operation, the swift water rescue team from the Billings Fire Department successfully executed the rescue of an individual stranded on a tree in the middle of the river around 9:30 p.m. Simultaneously, responders focused their efforts on the rescue of three additional individuals who were stranded on an island in the river. These rescues spanned from 10 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The Sheriff's Office Rescue Boat, operated by the Sheriff's Office and supported by swift water technicians from the Billings Fire Department, navigated the challenging waters and facilitated the safe recovery of the individuals.

This incident highlights the inherent risks associated with water activities, particularly in rivers, and serves as a reminder for all individuals engaging in such activities to prioritize their safety. The Billings Fire Department urges everyone to wear a properly fitting and U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket, as it significantly increases the chances of survival during water emergencies. Additionally, individuals should inform a trusted person about their plans, including the intended location, expected return time, and any changes to the itinerary, to facilitate a swift response in case of an emergency.

The individual stranded in a tree had an inexpensive raft that flipped and she then became tangled in a tree.

The second set of victims were looking for their friend and got stranded on the island.

The successful outcome of this water rescue operation was a testament to the joint efforts and seamless collaboration between the Billings Fire Department, the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office, AMR, and other supporting agencies. Their commitment to public safety, coupled with the utilization of advanced technology, contributed to the successful recovery of all four individuals involved.

Victoria Hill, the public information officer for the City of Billings:

 

Drones Credited With Life-Saving Rescues in Northern Ontario

 

Scott Grant, the chief of the Moosonee Volunteer Fire Department, says a $46,000 investment has already saved two lives in the last week alone.

A DJI 30 Matrice thermal drone, purchased by the department just over a year ago, has already flown to more than a dozen incidents in the region, including finding a man lost in the bush on Wednesday night.  

And on Sunday night volunteer firefighters located a woman  – already showing signs of hypothermia – trapped on an ice chunk in the Moose River. 

The dramatic rescue began with a call to 9-1-1 and local firefighters about 9:30 p.m.

"There's a woman, she's out there screaming on the ice," Grant said. "Obviously she seems lost and she's quite far out there." 

A couple of weeks earlier, the ice had begun its imminent, annual breakup, and several patches of open water were visible.

Grant said he contacted his drone team, who met him by the shore of the river. The sun had set, and crew's flashlights became nearly useless in trying to find the woman on the river. Grant spoke to the lady using a bullhorn, encouraging her to remain calm while teams planned a route across the treacherous ice.

"I'm sure it's quite terrifying being out there, especially when it's getting dark out," Grant said. "We could barely make her out at that point. And we can't send crews out on an ice surface without knowing the location of where they're going."

Out of fear or panic, the lady also began wandering across the ice floe, Grant said, making it difficult to pin her exact location down. It also put her in danger of plunging into the icy water.

While cold-water rescue teams and firefighters prepared on shore, Grant deployed the drone team. 

"We ended up locating her approximately 600 meters from shore," Grant said, adding that the drone's thermal camera was able to locate her in the dark, "locking on" her location.

"Once we had her location, we ordered the drone to hover directly over top of the individual. So even though we could not see her, we knew exactly where she was."

Rescue teams then were able to navigate to the point, set the woman in an inflatable vessel, and pull her back to shore.

The entire operation, he said, took about 40-45 minutes, in a situation where every minute counts.

Once on shore, Grant said, the woman was taken to a local health clinic with signs of hypothermia. She has since been "feeling better," Grant said, and is resting at home.

The Drone in Action

Grant says the drone represents a "fantastic opportunity" for search and rescue operations.

"Even if we know where the individual is, let's say, on the ice," Grant said. "We can use that drone and put it up in the air and get a good 360 degree view of what we're going into."

"It definitely gives us a lot more confidence to be able to know exactly what we're getting into or give us a better idea of what we're entering," Grant said. "It gives us a really good ability to plan further a few steps ahead of time."

The drone allows for a full aerial survey of the area, saving hours of work for rescue teams, who typically will search an area by arranging themselves and covering ground in a grid-pattern.

"It really also helps ensure that no area gets missed," he said. "No area gets passed over."

The Moosonee Volunteer Fire Department joins a list of emergency services using drone technology to save lives, or in some cases, investigate crimes.

In 2021, SafeSight Exploration announced they had developed a new drone specifically adapted to operate in underground mine rescue situations, where debris and smoke can obstruct rescuers.

Ted Hanley, vice-president of Ontario Mine Rescue, said a rescue scenario underground presents a more challenging environment in which to operate a drone, because there are many unknowns, and smoke, fire and debris can impede their sensors.

"The UAV [drone] or any robotic technology that's unmanned, being able to inspect an area during an emergency is potentially bringing us back that missing percentage of information that can allow us to make a safe decision on whether to send or not send rescuers into an area," Henley said.

Shared from CBC.CA