2025 Aerial Achievement Awards Winners

The Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit (FCSORU) is an all-volunteer team of fully certified law enforcement officers who contribute more than 8,000 hours of service each year. Through a community-funded partnership, the unit launched a Skydio drone program to bring advanced technology to rural areas of Arkansas.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida is using drones to enhance public safety, with daily deployments supporting search and rescue, tactical missions, and emergency response. Integrated Drone as First Responder (DFR) operations offer critical real-time visibility for deputies on the ground.

At Travis Air Force Base, the 60th Maintenance Group completed the DoD’s first in-house drone training for aircraft inspection, enabling Airmen to detect cracks and corrosion without lifts or harnesses. The program is saving thousands of man-hours while improving readiness and fleet safety.

In residential and commercial areas, AEP’s docked drones inspect distribution lines within a 3-mile radius with a Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS) waiver from the FAA. They are the first program to routinely monitor infrastructure in dense, populated environments.

The New York Power Authority uses drones to remotely inspect hazardous, hard-to-access infrastructure including hydropower plants such as dams. By choosing to risk the machine, not the person, NYPA improves safety while capturing detailed visual data—enabling efficient, informed maintenance without sending inspectors into dangerous environments.

Southern California Edison (SCE) is setting a new benchmark in utility drone operations with one of the largest autonomous inspection programs in the country. With more than 100 drones in deployment and additional docked systems on the way, SCE has redefined how inspections are conducted across transmission lines, distribution networks, substations, and high fire risk areas.

Redmond officers responded to a reported missing endangered 80-year-old man who suffers from dementia and diabetes. Officers searched the heavily wooded area nearby but were unable to locate him. A drone was deployed, and the man was found uninjured and reunited with his family.

The Las Vegas Metro Police Department’s DFR program provided critical aerial support during a nighttime rescue on Lone Mountain. Using spotlights and live feeds, the drone team guided rescuers to a stranded climber, helping ensure a safe recovery under challenging conditions.

Since launching in July 2024, West Palm Beach PD’s DFR program has flown over 1,900 missions, with drones often arriving first on scene. Integrated with Axon systems and FAA waivers, the initiative supports patrol, SWAT, and federal partners with real-time aerial intelligence.

Philadelphia Police launched DFR operations in July 2024, supporting incidents from missing persons to major events like the Eagles’ Super Bowl celebration. With proven impact on response and safety, the program is becoming a key asset in the city’s public safety strategy.

Turner Construction’s Digital Superintendent is a fully-autonomous, always-available resource to provide continuous site visibility without increasing headcount. By automating routine site scans and integrating real-time data into existing workflows, they are reducing the lag between observation and action.

American Electric Power checked burned lines at night without sending a lineman into the ash. A WWII era cotton gin burned in Gregory, Texas, taking poles down with it. The bales could not be put out without spreading embers. With the color camera showing nothing through the smoke, crews switched to thermal and cleared the re energized circuit.

The California Department of Transportation now watches unstable slopes without sending a crew. SOAR grew from a federal proof of concept into a statewide network of X10 docks and a mobile command trailer. Over 2,500 flights have run without a system failure, and landslide monitoring has documented more than $1.1 million in savings this year.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department solved its staffing problem by hiring civilian pilots. A department cannot scale aerial response by pulling officers off the street. Trained civilians now fly beside commissioned officers under identical standards. One may never make an arrest, but may be first to see an armed suspect behind a wall.

The Town of Ramapo Police Department proved a small agency can run DFR on two docks. With 110 sworn officers, the department skipped the metropolitan hive model. Its RAPTOR unit flies visible patrols over shopping centers to deter crime rather than only respond, and five of nine remote pilots are certified instructors, including the chief.

Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a critical incident involving two young children, ages 7 and 9, armed with a loaded firearm. Using real-time aerial support from the X10, deputies maintained situational awareness and safely secured the scene—preventing what could have become a deadly force encounter.