In Episode 5 of Skydio’s Regulatory Series, Jakee Stoltz from Skydio’s Regulatory Team shared the latest on FAA approvals for public safety agencies operating drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)—with special focus on the growing number of 400-foot waivers. What was once a slow and complex process is now being streamlined, with 200-foot approvals averaging just five days and 400-foot approvals coming through in as little as 21 days. Joining Jakee were Sergeant Jay Kemme and Sergeant Ben Miller of the Cincinnati Police Department, who detailed their four-year journey to launching a rooftop drone program now covering 90% of the city. They were joined by Travis Scott, VP of Commercial Sales at Dedrone by Axon, who spoke to the importance of radar-based detect-and-avoid systems in achieving safe and scalable DFR (Drone as First Responder) operations. Together, the panel shared key insights into waiver strategies, rooftop deployment, airspace deconfliction, and lessons learned for agencies looking to scale quickly and safely.

Led by grant expert Kathy Wood in partnership with Skydio, this webinar provides practical strategies for securing funding to launch or expand Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs. It outlines key federal, state, and local grant opportunities, emphasizes the importance of community collaboration and consistent outreach, and shares case studies of successful grant-funded DFR initiatives. Kathy also offers tips on grant layering, using nonprofit partners to unlock funding, and positioning your program for sustainability. The session highlights Skydio’s support through its “Skydio for All” community engagement program, the Axon SkySwap initiative, and grant writing assistance via [email protected].

As critical infrastructure ages, the need for efficient, safe, and cost-effective inspection methods has never been greater. Traditional approaches are often slow, rely on costly resources, and are labor intensive. Stantec knows this well. That's why they've continued to optimize their drone processes and find new ways to leverage technology to solve complex critical infrastructure problems safely and efficiently. In this live talk, Joshua Sexton, Reality Capture Technology Manager, shares how Stantec uses Skydio drones to capture data in low-light GPS-denied environments autonomously — processed in gNext to transform the data collected in a challenging environment into actionable insights with a comprehensive operational picture around difficult assets. Join the discussion to learn: Innovation Leadership: How Stantec sets new industry benchmarks with advanced drone technology and software solutions. End-to-End Workflow Integration: Combining Skydio's autonomous drones with gNext's software for seamless data capture and processing for digital twins Crucial Capability: ensuring inspections can be conducted whenever required, even in environment drones previously couldn’t access Enhancing Safety and Efficiency: Real-world examples of reducing risks, streamlining operations, and improving project outcomes.