APD Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS)

An APD drone flying above AT&T Stadium

 

The Arlington Police Department Aviation Unit uses Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) technology for a variety of purposes including high-risk tactical operations, search & rescue, crime scene documentation, and even responding to certain types of calls for service.

All Aviation Unit members have Part 107 licensing through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In addition to their operational duties, members regularly attend community events to show the public how UAS technology works and to promote UAS safety.

Click the tabs below to learn more about how APD is using UAS technology to keep the community safe and to view important information about flying drones in Arlington.

If you have additional questions, please contact the Aviation Unit by sending an email to PDUAS@ArlingtonTX.gov. 

 

Where can I fly drones in Arlington?

FlySafe is the City of Arlington's initiative to ensure the safe, respectful, and legal use of UAS within our community.

To help residents and businesses, the City of Arlington provides live data on areas of potential risk, advisories for local events or emergencies, and other flight planning features through AirHub® Portal, an FAA approved, Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) application.

Pilots can access pre-flight risk assessments, local weather reports, and automated real-time LAANC approvals to fly in locally controlled airspace (under 400 feet) in just a few clicks. To visit AirHub® Portal, click on the button below.

AirHub® Portal

What is LAANC?

LAANC is a partnership between the FAA and private industry to safely integrate small drones into the national airspace. Flying within the national airspace is strictly regulated by the FAA. All drone operators must obtain FAA LAANC authorization before flying in controlled airspace. The good news is that drone pilots can now receive LAANC authorization for most operations in just a few seconds. 

Additionally, Part 107 pilots can request further coordination with the FAA for operations that LAANC cannot automatically approve.

 

What steps do I need to take before I fly my drone?

Before you fly your drone / UAS device, please review the steps below:

  1. Confirm Your Certifications
    Recreational Pilots should ensure they have a valid FAA Recreational Drone Pilot TRUST Certificate.
    Commercial Pilots should ensure they have a valid FAA Part 107 Commercial Drone Pilot Certificate.

  2. FAA Drone Registration
    If your drone weighs more than 0.55 pounds, you must register it with the FAA. Learn how to register your drone with the FAA by clicking here.

  3. Create a New Pilot Account
    Register as a City of Arlington drone pilot using a valid email address in AirHub® Portal. Once registered, you will have access to up-to-date airspace information, create new LAANC operation submissions, and receive near real-time automated approvals from participating air traffic facilities and airports nationwide.

  4. Plan Your Flight
    After logging in, locate where you will be operating your drone using an address, a known location name, geographic coordinates, or manually navigate using the interactive map. You can also quickly create an operation from anywhere in AirHub® Portal by clicking the blue plus button in the upper right corner of the desktop app or the upper left corner of the mobile app.

  5. Define Operation Parameters
    Specify your operation area (Rectangle, Polygon, Ellipse), operation title, operation type, operation altitude, start time, duration, and Pilot in Command information. 

  6. Request FAA LAANC Authorization
    Submit a request for FAA LAANC authorization through AirHub® Portal. The system will guide you through the process and provide real-time approvals when needed or possible.

About Remote ID

Remote ID is essential for the safety and security of our airspace, acting like a digital license plate for your drone. It provides identification and location information that authorities can receive to track and identify drones. Ensure your drone is Remote ID compliant as required by the FAA. For more information, click here to visit the FAA Remote ID website.

What rules should I follow when flying a drone?

Following the FAA's drone pilot regulations ensures a safe and successful flight. Please review the rules that are applicable to your drone use:

Drone as a First Responder

Recognizing the tremendous value and effectiveness UAS technology brings to public safety, the Arlington Police Department is excited to announce the expansion of its Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program.

To enhance officer response on the ground when a call for service comes in, APD employees who are licensed UAS pilots can fly a drone to a scene, scope out the area from above, and provide important, real-time information to responding officers. This approach can help officers make better-informed decisions, more swiftly identify and locate suspects, and better protect themselves and community members. 

As a matter of transparency, the department has created a public dashboard where community members can view completed APD UAS missions. To view the dashboard, click on the button below. 

APD UAS Mission Public Dashboard

 

Known Future Deployments

Please see below for information concerning known future UAS deployment dates. Unless otherwise noted, training will generally occur at the Ott Cribbs Public Safety Center, which is located at 620 W Division Street.

Deployments are contingent upon weather and pilot availability.

Stadium Events

06/14/2026 | FIFA World Cup 26: Netherlands vs Japan | Dallas Stadium in Arlington

06/17/2026 | FIFA World Cup 26: England vs Croatia | Dallas Stadium in Arlington

06/22/2026 | FIFA World Cup 26: Argentina vs Austria | Dallas Stadium in Arlington

06/25/2026 | FIFA World Cup 26: Japan vs Sweden | Dallas Stadium in Arlington

06/27/2026 | FIFA World Cup 26: Jordan vs Argentina | Dallas Stadium in Arlington

06/30/2026 | FIFA World Cup 26: Round of 32 Match | Dallas Stadium in Arlington

07/03/2026 | FIFA World Cup 26: Round of 32 Match | Dallas Stadium in Arlington

07/06/2026 | FIFA World Cup 26: Round of 16 Match | Dallas Stadium in Arlington

07/14/2026 | FIFA World Cup 26: Semi-Final Match | Dallas Stadium in Arlington

08/15/2026 | BTS World Tour 'Arirang' | AT&T Stadium

08/16/2026 | BTS World Tour 'Arirang' | AT&T Stadium

APD UAS Training Dates

04/14/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

04/29/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

04/30/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

05/12/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

05/13/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

05/14/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

05/26/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

06/02/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

06/09/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

08/04/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

08/05/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

08/06/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

08/11/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

09/08/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

09/15/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

10/13/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

10/20/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

11/11/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

11/12/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

12/08/2026 | 620 W. Division Street

 

 

 

 

Report for the Use of Small Uncrewed Aerial Systems

Texas law requires law enforcement agencies that use UAS technology to submit a report every two years detailing their UAS activity. APD makes this report available to the public as well.

Click on the following link to read APD's latest report for the Use of Small Uncrewed Aerial Systems:

Report-for-the-Use-of-Small-Uncrewed-Aircraft-Systems-2023-2024.pdf(PDF, 3MB)   

 

 

 

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