Members of one of five George Mason University Police’s Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Teams assigned to Sunday’s Marine Corps Marathon stand as rooftop sentinels, watching the sun rise before launching multiple drones into the airspace above Arlington County to provide aerial security overwatch of the prestigious race, which is the fifth largest marathon in the United States. This was the first year that drones replaced expensive-to-operate helicopters to provide eyes in the sky. It was also the first time that the FAA had enough confidence in a law enforcement drone team to authorize flights in what is some of the world’s most restricted airspace. The drones provided real-time video feeds to the unified command center in a manner that is a game changer for decision makers in a massive security operation involving hundreds of law enforcement officers. The Mason Police continue to be trailblazers in the use of this amazing technology.
Photo by George Mason University Police UAS Unit