A team from the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) Precision AG and UAS Research Center recently provided UAS training to a select group of Louisiana law enforcement, firefighters and first responders.

The training class was led by Paul Karlowitz, who has been teaching about aviation and UAS technology in the College of Business and Social Sciences for more than 20 years at ULM. Karlowitz helped establish and became director of operations for the ULM Precision AG and UAS Research Center in 2014.

From September to November, Karlowitz, along with Stephanie Robinson, the manager of the research center and an FAA Part 107 UAS pilot, traveled to the LSP Joint Emergency Training Services Center in Zachary, Louisiana every week to teach the Friday class, providing instruction on the complexities and techniques of managing UAS and FAA Part 107 certification.

In total, 30 law enforcement/fire/first responders and one officer from the ULM Police Department completed the training. 

“The recent arrangement with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety has proven to be of benefit for all involved,” Karlowitz says. “They needed UAS training along with FAA Part 107 (Remote Pilot Certificate) training. It matched perfectly with our DRA grant.”

The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) Workforce Development grant that Karlowitz mentions was awarded to him and other UAS-qualified ULM faculty in 2018. Known as “Training the Trainer Using Unmanned Aerial Systems,” the $90,000 grant allows Karlowitz and other UAS-qualified ULM faculty to teach people how to operate and become certified in the technology.

“The technology is advancing rapidly with new applications and uses, including those for law enforcement/fire/first responders,” Karlowitz says.

“Operators must know how to use the equipment properly, understand the technology, and be certified by the FAA to fly UAS.” 

Photo below: Paul Karlowitz, associate professor and director of the ULM Precision AG and UAS Research Center, and Stephanie Robinson, manager, trained 30 law enforcement officers, firefighters and first responders in the operation of unmanned aircraft systems (aka drones) and FAA Part 107 remote pilot certification. Here, Karlowitz is on the left beside the brick sign and Robinson is first on the left in front of the sign.