DFR Overview
Revere Tactical Technologies
Aircraft & software
Drone as First Responder
Drone as First Responder puts a drone over an incident fast, often before ground units arrive, so responders see the scene before they commit.
What DFR is
DHS Science & Technology describes a DFR system as prepositioned drones at launch stations, enabling rapid, remote deployment to an incident. Stations are spaced so drones can arrive in minutes, often before personnel, and send information back to teams in real time. [1]
Launch stations
Docks or staged aircraft, placed so the drone reaches calls in minutes.
Eyes first
Live video helps command decide what to send before units arrive.
Free DHS resources
DHS SAVER publishes a DFR TechNote and "Questions to Ask Vendors About DFR". [1]
FAA pathways agencies use today
| Pathway | Who it fits | What it allows | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 91.113 PAO/PSO waiver | Agencies that are both a Public Aircraft Operator and a Public Safety Organization | VLOS and BVLOS, over people and moving vehicles with mitigations; 200 ft shielded or 400 ft with acceptable detect-and-avoid. FAA says it replaces Tactical BVLOS and First Responder BVLOS COAs for qualified entities. [2] | 48 months |
| Part 107 PSO shielded-ops waiver | Public safety organizations that are not public aircraft, such as volunteer fire departments and SAR teams | Waives 107.31 (VLOS), 107.39 (over people) and 107.145 (moving vehicles) for shielded operations. [3] | Per waiver |
| Special Governmental Interest (SGI) | Any qualifying operator in an actual emergency | Temporary emergency waiver (Part 107) or COA amendment (public aircraft). [4] | Emergency only |
| Part 108 (proposed) | Not yet available | Proposed BVLOS rule published Aug 7, 2025; not final as of this review. [5] | n/a |
Typical DFR planning flow
-
Define the missions
Which call types get a drone, and what should it report back? -
Pick the FAA pathway
PAO + PSO: 91.113 waiver. Volunteer or non-PAO: Part 107 PSO waiver. Details. -
Choose sites and hardware
Docks need power, network and a clear launch area. Dock 3 takes 100–240 V AC input, max 800 W. [6] Compare docks. -
Check purchase rules
Ohio law and grant conditions before you buy. -
Write policy and train
Policy, data retention and training come before go-live. DHS points agencies to NUSTL's sUAS Program Documentation for Public Safety. [1]
Ohio notes
Ohio-specific
Warrants still apply to dronesUnder HB 251 (ORC 4561.61), if an officer would need a warrant to enter or search a place in person, a warrant is required to observe its interior with a drone. [7]
Research pending
Ohio DFR response-time dataWe have not yet verified published response-time results from Ohio DFR programs. This will be filled in only from agency-published data.
Public Safety Wiki on Revere Tactical Technologies. Plain-language summaries, not legal advice. Talk to your counsel and the FAA for decisions about your program.
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