Preparing Public Agencies for the Next Era of Drone Operations?
Drones are becoming an essential tool for public agencies, improving safety, efficiency, and situational awareness across a wide range of operations. CIS has supported members as they establish drone programs and continues to monitor changes in the legal and regulatory landscape that may affect drone operations.
This spring, CIS awarded drone grants to 10 agencies to help launch new drone programs. Funding covered a designated operator's Part 107 exam fee, exam preparation course, hands-on flight training, and up to $1,000 toward the agency's first drone. Law enforcement participants also received one-year membership in the Law Enforcement Drone Association (LEDA).
Because FAA requirements do not currently include a practical flight skills test for Part 107 operators, the hands-on training component provided valuable operational experience. Grant procedures, and best practices from the outset.
Mt. Angel City Manager and Police Chief Mark Daniles described the value of the program:
"I could not imagine the level of training that we would receive, and the amount of support to begin a program, taking the right steps first instead of trying to figure everything out and likely making big mistakes. Everything about the training was excellent."
For agencies considering a drone program, peer organizations continue to demonstrate how drones can improve both safety and efficiency. Law enforcement agencies use drones as first responders, document crash and crime scenes, support search-and-rescue operations, and help locate suspects while reducing risk to officers and K-9 teams. Fire departments deploy drones to identify wildfire hot spots, assess incidents in difficult terrain or during water rescues, and support tactical decision-making. Other public agencies use drones to inspect facilities, infrastructure, rooftops, water treatment facilities, and sewer plants without unnecessarily exposing employees to hazards.
The strongest case for drone use is often worker and responder safety. Drones enable personnel to assess hazardous environments from a safe distance, reducing the need to climb rooftops, enter unsecured scenes, navigate difficult terrain, or conduct dangerous water-based operations. They can also provide responders with critical situational awareness before arriving on scene.
While the benefits of drones are significant, agencies also prepare for a rapidly evolving regulatory environment. A recent Center for Internet Security white paper examines the public safety implications of the FAA's proposed Part 108 rule and the UAS Traffic Management (UTM) ecosystem that will support Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations.
Part 108 could represent the most significant change to drone operations since Part 107 was introduced in 2016. The rule would expand routine BVLOS operations and increase reliance on digital airspace management systems, fundamentally changing how public agencies operate in shared airspace.
What's Changing in Drone Operations
At its core, Part 108 is intended to enable routine BVLOS drone operations at scale. This change would support activities such as infrastructure inspections, utility monitoring, agriculture operations, package delivery, and Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs. As drone activity increases, public agencies will operate in a more connected and data-driven airspace environment requiring greater coordination, information sharing, and digital traffic management.
Key Changes Public Agencies Should Monitor
Expanded BVLOS Operations
Commercial, utility, agricultural, and public safety operators may conduct routine flights beyond an operator's visual line of sight, significantly increasing drone activity throughout the National Airspace System.
Remote Operators Will Become More Common
Drone pilots may no longer be located near the aircraft and could oversee multiple drones from remote locations, making traditional operator identification and coordination practices less effective.
UTM Systems Will Play a Larger Role
UAS Traffic Management (UTM) systems will provide digital coordination of drone traffic, including flight intent, routing, operator identification, and authorization information. These systems may become important tools for maintaining airspace awareness.
Airspace Will Become More Complex
As drone operations increase around critical infrastructure, utility corridors, public events, and emergency incidents, distinguishing legitimate operations from potential threats may become more challenging.
Airspace Coordination Will Become Increasingly Important
Public safety agencies may need to coordinate more closely with commercial operators during wildfire response, search-and-rescue operations, disaster response, and other emergency activities occurring in shared airspace.
Cybersecurity Will Become a Critical Consideration
As drone programs rely more heavily on cloud services, cellular connectivity, fleet management software, and third-party providers, agencies should evaluate cybersecurity, data governance, vendor security, and supply chain risks alongside flight operations.
Preparing Now
Public agencies can begin preparing for these changes by:
Reviewing drone program policies, procedures, and cybersecurity practices.
Monitoring developments related to Part 108 and UTM implementation.
Updating drone response and airspace coordination procedures.
Training personnel to operate in increasingly complex airspace environments.
Building relationships with neighboring jurisdictions, utility operators, aviation partners, and emergency response stakeholders.
Taking these steps now can help agencies adapt more effectively as drone operations become increasingly integrate into everyday public safety, infrastructure, and emergency management activities.
Looking Ahead
The most significant change under Part 108 is not simply that there will be more drones in the sky. Public agencies will increasingly need to understand manage airspace information, coordinate with multiple operators, and incorporate cybersecurity and UTM data into decision-making.
Agencies that begin planning now will be better positioned to safely leverage emerging drone technologies while operating effectively in a more connected and dynamic airspace environment.
CIS will continue to monitor developments related to drone technology, Part 108, and other emerging risks that may affect public agencies. We remain committed to helping members take advantage of innovative technologies that improve safety, efficiency, and service delivery while effectively managing the operational, regulatory, and cybersecurity risks that accompany them.
Together, we're building the next generation of the CIS Learning Center.
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