The Campbell Police Department is proud to announce a groundbreaking achievement in public safety technology, becoming the first law enforcement agency in the United States to secure a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waiver with authorization for nighttime operations. This waiver is the first to incorporate radar technology with electro-optical sensors to enhance airspace monitoring, enabling a single remote pilot to safely deploy drones both day and night.
In May of this year, the department installed the Dedrone by Axon "Beyond" system, integrated with MatrixSpace radar. This multi-sensor fusion technology enhances airspace awareness by combining radar, camera feeds, and general aviation traffic detection, allowing safe and rapid drone deployment to emergency calls.
With the introduction of this advanced technology and the support of key partners, the Campbell Police Department was able to secure this FAA waiver for its Drone as First Responder (DFR) program. Previously, DFR operations required a secondary off-site visual observer to monitor airspace for potential hazards from general aviation aircrafts and were limited to daylight hours. This waiver removes the need for the human visual observer and enables nighttime deployments, allowing for 24/7 single-pilot operations.
The Campbell Police Department would like to recognize our key partners, MatrixSpace, Dedrone by Axon, and Axon Air Remote powered by Dronesense, for their contributions to this achievement. A special thank you goes to Brandon Karr of Dronesense, and Charles Werner of DRONERESPONDERS, who both have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help secure this waiver and continue to improve DFR programs across the nation. The Campbell Police Department would also like to thank FAA Flight Standards, FAA Air Traffic Operations, and the FAA 91.113 waiver team for their support in obtaining this unprecedented waiver.
“This FAA waiver marks a major milestone for our department and the community we serve,” said Chief Gary Berg. “By integrating this cutting-edge technology, we can now respond to emergencies even faster and more effectively, day and night. These partnerships underscore the critical role public-private collaboration plays in advancing public safety, ensuring we have the tools to protect our community when it matters most.”
Together, we are setting new standards for public safety and paving the way for innovative technology in law enforcement.
