NUAIR CEO, Gibson, supports state police use of drones

The CEO of the NUAIR Alliance is applauding the use of drones by the New York State Police.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s recent launch of the new state police (UAS) program is a “progressive step” toward integrating this “important technology for the betterment of the community,” retired Major General Marke (Hoot) Gibson, CEO of the NUAIR Alliance, said in a statement that CenterState CEO issued Tuesday.

“We know UAS technologies hold the potential to support search and rescue missions and improve disaster and emergency responses, while reducing costs,” said Gibson.

“Furthermore, when it comes to the testing and research and development of UAS technologies, the CenterState region, led by the NUAIR Alliance and our partners, is well ahead of the curve. We are proud to work with the state to ensure that New York State Police officers are properly trained and fully certified as test site mission commanders,” he added.

NUAIR Alliance is short for the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance, which is headquartered at Griffiss International Airport in Rome.

Cuomo on Jan. 10 announced the launch of the new state police unmanned aerial system (UAS) program, which troopers will use to support law-enforcement efforts, including disaster response and traffic safety.

State Police Troop D, which serves seven counties in the Central New York region, is using one of the first four drones deployed. Troopers are also utilizing the technology in Western New York, the Capital Region, and in five counties west of the Hudson River.

The state will deploy an additional 14 aerial drones throughout the state by April.

“This state-of-the-art technology will improve emergency response, improve operational and cost efficiencies and increase Trooper safety,” Cuomo contended in a news release.

Purpose

The state police will use unmanned aerial systems for law enforcement and public-safety efforts, “taking advantage of the flexibility and efficiencies that aerial drones provide,” Cuomo’s office said.

Acquiring and operating the systems provide a “significant” cost savings over manned aircraft, and will be deployed in multiple locations across the state, reducing response times and making operations more efficient and cost-effective.

Troopers can also use the aerial drones in “dangerous” situations and environments, including natural disasters, keeping state troopers “out of harm’s way.”

The drone can also document and help reconstruct serious motor-vehicle crashes “in less time” than with current methods, resulting in shorter road closures. Investigators will also use the aerial drones to document and photograph crime scenes.

 New York State Police officers who will operate the drones will be certified through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and undergo 32 hours of hands-on training with the systems, according to Cuomo’s office.

About NUAIR

NUAIR Alliance is a consortium of industry leaders and academic institutions throughout New York, Massachusetts, and Michigan led by CenterState CEO in New York, MassDevelopment in Massachusetts and the Michigan Unmanned Aerial Systems Consortium in Michigan.

NUAIR manages one of seven FAA-designated UAS test sites in the U.S. “leading research and deployment technologies that establish the case for safe UAS operations in the National Airspace System (NAS),” according to the NUAIR website.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com