AV-05 · coordinated
Emergency-Response Support
When disaster strikes, agencies need eyes in the sky fast — and they don't always have their own drone program. As FAA-certificated Part 107 remote pilots, we legally support emergency managers, first responders, and CERT teams with rapid aerial damage assessment and search support, flying only under agency tasking and proper FAA authorization. We handle the airspace paperwork so your team gets imagery, not headaches.
Deliverables
What's included
- Post-storm damage assessment: high-resolution roof, road, utility, and flood imagery with mapped photo documentation for recovery and assistance claims
- Search support under agency direction: aerial overwatch and systematic grid imaging of areas hazardous or slow to cover on foot
- Airspace and TFR coordination: we prepare and submit FAA Special Governmental Interest (SGI) emergency authorization requests in support of your agency
- Pre-incident readiness: standing MOU/support agreements, on-call activation, and joint training with your emergency management or CERT program
- Full documentation: certificated and insured pilots, flight logs, and same-day delivery of imagery and maps to incident command
How it works
The mission, step by step
STEP 1Before an incident: we establish a written agreement (MOU or on-call arrangement) with your agency or CERT program, since the FAA and emergency-management best practice both stress partnerships set up ahead of a disaster
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STEP 2When activated: we deploy only under your agency's tasking; if a disaster TFR or restricted airspace is involved, we request expedited FAA approval through the SGI process (time-sensitive requests go to the FAA System Operations Support Center by phone)
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STEP 3On scene: we fly the assigned mission — damage survey grids or search-support passes — fully coordinated with incident command and clear of manned aircraft
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STEP 4Delivery: imagery, maps, and flight documentation are handed off to your team the same day for damage reports and operational decisions
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Questions we hear
FAQ
Can a private drone pilot legally fly inside a disaster TFR?Only with FAA authorization. The FAA's Special Governmental Interest (SGI) process lets a current Part 107 pilot supporting an eligible emergency operation (firefighting, search and rescue, damage assessment, infrastructure restoration) get an expedited amendment to fly in a disaster TFR. Flying in one without approval risks civil penalties up to $75,000.
Do you have to be a government employee to help?No. Per FAA guidance, the aircraft and pilot do not have to belong to the requesting public agency — private Part 107 operators can fly under an SGI authorization in support of an agency's emergency operation. We never self-deploy; we fly only when tasked by an agency.
How fast can you get airborne after we call?For time-sensitive operations, the FAA's SGI process can grant real-time authorization through the System Operations Support Center — in some cases within minutes. A pre-established agreement with your agency makes activation fastest.
What if there's no TFR over the area?Then standard Part 107 rules apply and we can usually fly immediately — but we still coordinate with incident command, yield to all manned aircraft (especially firefighting and medevac), and document every flight.
Pricing
COORDINATED
Agency partnerships and standby arrangements scoped individually.
Sources: The FAA's Special Governmental Interest (SGI) process expedites airspa… · The FAA can impose civil penalties of up to $75,000 on drone pilots wh… · 76% of U.S. public safety agencies already use drones and another 17% …