Flying Lion hits 55,000+ Drone As A First Responder missions

Flying Lion announced it recently hit over 55,000 Drone As A First Responder flights. After pioneering the idea of using drones as first responders, the company has now rolled out a wide range of services that other communities can use.

By the end of 2024, Flying Lion conducted 55,773 DFR flights across all of its partnered law enforcement agencies. The company states that over 35,000 of those flights were beyond visual line of sight operations.

Flying Lion started its DFR program with the Chula Vista Police Department in 2018. Expanding its partnerships to other agencies across California, it now manages some of the largest DFR programs in the nation. Currently, over 30 law enforcement agencies work with Flying Lion across the country.

Drone As A First Responder is a more advanced way that police departments, sheriffs, or other agencies can use drones to their advantage and reduce risk to their officers. When an emergency call comes in, operators can launch and send a drone to the scene of the call to get eyes on what is happening sooner. Then, either the situation can be handled remotely, or it can provide much-needed information to responding LEOs.

As the FAA has opened up routes for drone operators to pilot UASs beyond visual line of sight and operate more than one UAS at a time, DFR programs have begun to explode in popularity. This also helps agencies decrease their response times, as drones can arrive on scene in a matter of minutes.

“We expect DFR programs will more than double in 2025,” Barry Brennan, Flying Lion President and Founder, said in a statement. “These DFR programs are keeping community members, first responders, and even suspects safer every day.”

Flying Lion doesn’t just provide the training or equipment for agencies; it can also provide staffing of remote pilots and other key staff members who can support officers in the field. Flying Lion can also provide on-demand drone services for communities when hosting large events or during emergencies using a custom response van that can support 24/7 drone operations.

As regulations continue to become more adapted to the industry and technologies evolve, DFR is expected to grow worldwide. Drones for many agencies have become common tools to better keep their communities safe, and it is becoming more likely that your local department uses drones in some way or fashion.