Drone/Helicopter Teams In Action
To illustrate just how well drone/helicopter teams can work together, Rotor Pro asked both departments to describe drone/ helicopter missions that performed really well for them.
Here is what FCPD’s Bowman told us. “The department responded to a barricaded person in a vehicle, resulting in a prolonged shutdown of a primary roadway,” he said. “While the helicopter was the initial aviation response, it was soon relieved by drones that maintained uninterrupted situational awareness/overwatch for over 30 hours until the situation was peacefully resolved. Prior to the adoption of UAVs, this would likely have resulted in several helicopter flights, taxing staff (and) residents, and limiting the department’s response to other incidents.”
As for ACSO, Bonnell said, “We currently have a biweekly operation on Saturday nights that either have the rotorcraft or fixed-wing providing aerial support, and two UAV operators operating as ground support. During one event, a stolen vehicle failed to yield and the rotorcraft followed the vehicle until it stopped and the occupants ran. A perimeter was set up by the rotorcraft TFO and the UAV units responded to assist. During the search for the two suspects with the rotorcraft and UAV, another high priority detail came up. With the UAVs in place, the rotorcraft was able to break and respond to the second detail and assist in capturing four suspects.”
ACSO’s Cota had his own example to offer. “The Regional Sideshow Enforcement Team is a multiagency sideshow suppression effort across various agencies to address and manage the effects of illegal sideshows within the community,” he said. “During these planned events, the helicopter often locates vehicles wanted for evading traffic enforcement contact. The helicopter will follow the wanted vehicle, allowing ground units not to pursue. Once the vehicle has stopped and the occupants have exited the vehicle, ground units will converge on the vehicle and set a perimeter. Then a UAV will be deployed and together with the helicopter, they will form an aerial support system for the ground units.”
58 May/June 2024
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