Flying Lion, Iris Automation Partner to Provide Drone as First Responder Programs with Airspace Awareness

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby

Drone service provider Flying Lion, Inc. has announced the formation of a new partnership with safety avionics technology innovator Iris Automation granting enhanced airspace awareness to Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs. Per the partnership, Iris Automation’s Casia G ground-based detect and alert system will be added to Flying Lion’s suite of services.

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Flying Lion has logged over 22,000 DFR flights, and has worked extensively with leading law enforcement agencies to grant rapid emergency response and aerial assessment. Through DFR programs, Flying Lion has worked for agencies including Chula Vista PD, Redondo Beach PD, Santa Monica PD, and Beverly Hills PD.

In compliance with FAA requirements, Flying Lion and these DFR programs have used human remote pilots in command (RPICs) and visual observers (VOs) to enable BVLOS operations, but this method is sub-optimal for ongoing or large-scale DFR operations. DFR programs facilitate the immediate dispatch of a drone in response to a 911 call to provide real-time aerial situational awareness before the arrival of ground units, improving the safety of both the community and first responders.

Casia G will enable the next generation of DFR programs to establish surveilled airspace to conduct drone operations without the requirement of human visual observers. A compact, low-power device that can be installed anywhere with a clear view of the sky, Casia G detects cooperative aircraft through ADS-B and non-cooperative aircraft via Iris’ computer vision and artificial intelligence software. Upon detecting an aircraft, Casia G can either alert the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) or send an automated collision alert to the uncrewed aerial system’s command software.

“Flying Lion is proud to partner with such a forward-thinking organization as Iris Automation, to provide a safer environment to conduct DFR operations,” said Flying Lion President and Founder Barry Brennan. “The Casia G technology for BVLOS drone flights breaks new ground for public safety – it not only saves time and resources but also allows first responders to better protect the communities they serve.”

The deployment of multiple Casia G nodes to cover an operational area allows drones to survey an entire municipality. DFR program managers can conduct BVLOS operations of multiple UAS from multiple launch points, granting faster response times. Furthermore, routine BVLOS missions allow for the centralized management and operations of the UAS, as well as integration into 911 dispatch and real-time crime center operations. The USA has over 18,000 municipal police departments, only 200 of which have access to an aerial asset. BVLOS drone operations provide the remaining 17,800 departments with access to an aerial asset within existing budget constraints.

“Casia G provides an inexpensive and effective way for customers to take advantage of BVLOS flight through increased airspace awareness without the use of visual observers,” said Jon Damush, CEO of Iris Automation. “The new types of DFR programs are a perfect example, and working with Flying Lion and its incredible work across law enforcement to offer these solutions is an important step.”

The partners will be exhibiting at the National Public Safety UAS Conference in Williamsburg, VA from March 14th-15th.

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Ian attended Dominican University of California, where he received a BA in English in 2019. With a lifelong passion for writing and storytelling and a keen interest in technology, he is now contributing to DroneLife as a staff writer.