The Players
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) aircraft roster consists of a Bell 505 rotorcraft and two Cessna 206 fixed- wing aircraft. On the uncrewed side, “ACSO is equipped with various types of drone manufactured by DJI,” said Sergeant John Cota of the ACSO UAV unit. “We use the Matrice 210, 300 and M30T series drones. We also operate the Mavic 2 Enterprise Series (Dual, Zoom, Advanced, Mini) and Phantom 4 drones.” All of these drones are ground controlled, with drone pilots coordinating their actions with ACSO’s helicopter pilots.
The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) has Bell 429 GlobalRangers and a diverse fleet of drones. “Our workhorses are DJI M30s,” Captain Brian Bowman said. “We have 12 DJIs including Mavic 2s, 3s, and Avatas. We also have seven Autels, eight Lokis (SWAT interior ops) and one Parrot Anafi.” The FCPD has flown drones since 2019. All are piloted by ground-based controllers.
“In recent years, our Helicopter Division has embraced advancements in UAS technology, integrating drones into our operations for enhanced situational awareness and operational capabilities,” Bowman said. “For instance, our division has introduced a full-time sworn drone program manager, working under the same roof as manned operations. The collaboration between manned and unmanned aviation assets streamlines communication and coordination during operations. By centralizing drone operations within the Helicopter Division, Fairfax County ensures a unified approach to public safety aviation, where both manned and unmanned crews work seamlessly together.”
Why They Started Teaming Drones and Helicopters
The ACSO has been flying drones since 2015 and helicopters since 2020. As soon as the agency had both kinds of aircraft on hand, “We quickly saw the advantages of integrating both capabilities together,” said Lieutenant Daniel Bonnell of the ACSO’s manned aviation unit. “With the inability for UAVs to pursue, the helicopter was beneficial for tracking and quickly responding outside our jurisdictions to assist. When an operation stabilized, the UAV was much cheaper to keep on hand and had the capabilities of checking areas the rotorcraft/fixed wing was unable to. And at that point, that’s when we started teaming them – putting them into a position where they can actually benefit one another.”
The FCPD also grasped the benefits of teaming early on. “The integration of manned and unmanned aviation assets has since revolutionized public safety in Fairfax County,” Bowman said. “Drones, with their ability to navigate tighter spaces and sustain prolonged operations, complement the capabilities of manned helicopters. This synergy not only enhances operational efficiency, but also mitigates risks for personnel, particularly in hazardous situations.
“One of the key advantages of the drone program is its cost-effectiveness,” Bowman added. “While helicopters remain indispensable for swift responses over large geographical areas, drones offer a more affordable solution for sustained operations such as crime scene investigations and searches for missing persons. This cost- saving measure allows specialty units like EOD and SWAT to maintain situational awareness without tying up manned aircraft resources.”
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May/June 2024
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