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Over 200 federal, state and local public safety officials attend two-day event dedicated to the adoption and continued integration of drones into public safety operations.
(SYRACUSE, NEW YORK) – The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) and NUAIR were proud to host the fifth annual New York State Public Safety UAS Summit last week, which drew over 200 public safety officials to the Central New York area. Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, can and are helping state agencies conduct more efficient operations. The first day of the summit was held in the auditorium of Whitesboro High School and included presentations from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), NUAIR, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and a public safety panel with state and local officials. Day two of the summit, hosted by NUAIR at Griffiss International Airport in Rome included 20 UAS vendors and live demonstrations showcasing the latest technologies designed specifically for public safety operations.
“Public safety officials in New York are regularly using UAS for search and rescue, fire investigations, and even for damage assessments following a disaster,” said New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray. “We are going to continue working with our partner agencies and the private sector on embracing this technology so it can enhance the safety of our emergency personnel and aid in their missions moving forward.”
DHSES and NUAIR have trained over 2,000 public safety officials in UAS operations at the New York State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC) in Oriskany. DHSES offers four UAS operations courses that educate state and local public safety officials, including first responders, on how to integrate drones into their operations: UAS Awareness, Part 107 Preparation, UAS Operations, and UAS Operations at Night. All courses are taught by a team of instructors from the SPTC, NUAIR, New York State Police, and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
“NUAIR and DHSES continue to have a strong working relationship to train and enable the use of drones in public safety operations,” said NUAIR CEO Ken Stewart. “It’s great to see our annual public safety summit grow each year and NUAIR helping to be the conduit between state agencies and the UAS industry.”
New York has worked hard to establish itself as the nation’s premier destination for drones and related UAS industry businesses in the Central New York and Mohawk Valley regions. Since 2016, the state has invested nearly $113 million to supercharge the industry.
“This record-setting UAS public safety summit demonstrates how New York State and NUAIR, along with federal, state and local partners, are working together to both optimize industry innovation and to keep New Yorkers safe,” said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight. “In supporting the growth of UAS, we also support the breadth of its lifesaving potential —congratulations and thank you to all of the officials who have taken part in this year’s event.”
New York’s ongoing investment in the targeted industry in Central New York and the Mohawk Valley have also led to private investment as well. In 2018, six companies, including two international firms, committed to creating opportunities in both regions following more than $6.2 million in various state support made available through the UAS Central Job Fund.
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About NUAIR
As a trusted and credible service provider, NUAIR is ushering in the next generation of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM) solutions for the safety, societal, and economic benefit of New York State and beyond. https://nuair.org
About the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) provides leadership, coordination, and support to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disasters and other emergencies. For more information, follow @NYSDHSES on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter) or visit dhses.ny.gov.
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