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Comal County signs letter supporting sheriff's request to fly drones beyond visual line of sight
Summary
Detective Michael Nolero asked the court to approve a public declaration letter to support an FAA waiver package allowing the sheriff's drone team to operate beyond visual line of sight; the court approved the letter and directed the district attorney to sign.
Detective Michael Nolero, team leader for the Comal County Sheriff's drone team, told commissioners the department is seeking a Federal Aviation Administration certificate of waiver that would permit flights beyond visual line of sight under the FAA's Part 107 rules. Nolero said the county's terrain ' hills and river basins ' sometimes requires BVLOS operations for public safety missions and that the declaration is one of several documents required by the FAA.
"This letter will assist us, and I will file the package once I receive the letter, and hopefully get, the acceptance from the FAA," Nolero said. "They'll give us the waiver for Beyond Visual on his side." The court approved the letter and authorized the Comal County District Attorney to sign the declaration to accompany the FAA package.
District Attorney Jennifer Tharpe and other staff were thanked by Nolero for assisting with the submission. With the letter approved, the Sheriff's Office will proceed with filing the waiver package to request BVLOS authority in support of public safety missions.
