The City of San Diego has selected Skyfire Consulting to join its UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP) team.

Considered a leading provider of public safety UAS technologies in the U.S., Skyfire Consulting was selected to be a part of San Diego's IPP efforts thanks in large part to its substantial experience with FAA regulations related to public safety UAS use.

Additionally, the Atlanta-based UAS consultancy has as already worked to obtain the first two certificates of authorization (COAs) for the Chula Vista Police Department, which is also a part of the San Diego IPP team.

“Skyfire Consulting is honored to be a part of this ground-breaking program,” says Matt Sloane, the company's founder and CEO.

“We look forward to helping Chula Vista Police, and the greater San Diego program chart a course for the future of this important industry.”

During the UAS IPP, the city of San Diego will test new UAS hardware, software, and operational concepts in the use of UAS in public safety operations. The city is specifically focused on testing the use of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights in public safety, in preparation for autonomous deployment of UAS in emergency situations.

With this in mind, Skyfire Consulting is actively working with the FAA to approve BVLOS operations on behalf of the San Diego IPP team.

“We believe technology like this will help us respond to calls more quickly; and give officers important information they need to resolve calls safely,” says Chief Roxana Kennedy from Chula Vista Police Department.

“We are thrilled to have Skyfire Consulting's expertise on this project to help navigate the FAA's many guidelines around the safe use of UAS in public safety.”

Skyfire Consulting currently provides UAS equipment, on-site training, FAA consultation services, standard operating procedure development, service and repairs to more than 150 agencies across the United States.