They say, “Virginia is for Lovers.” For one lucky UAS company, the Commonwealth is also for drone lovers.
DroneUp just received a contract from Virginia to provide drone services for all state agencies, state colleges and other public bodies.
Company officials say it’s the first contract of its kind for the industry. DroneUp will be able to provide drone solutions for emergency services, law enforcement support, aerial Inspection/mapping data services, agricultural and government media relations and marketing.
Virginia officials say the primary users will be the Departments of Aviation, Emergency Management, Transportation, Forestry, Mines, Minerals and Energy, and all public universities and community colleges.
“We appreciate the Commonwealth’s efforts to streamline public sector access to leading-edge UAS services through this award,” DroneUp CEO Tom Walker said. “We look forward to supporting our hardworking state and local agencies both in the Commonwealth and nationwide.”
In February, the drone pilot service provider partnered with Vintun to offer UAS services for various federal agencies. Vintun developed a variety of services for various military and government organizations and has developed VDaaS (Vintun Drone-as-a-Service) which allows DroneUp’s Mission Match platform to locate, qualify and deploy the right drone pilot for the right mission.
VDaaS enables the customer to reduce the inspection cycle, get detailed imagery or other sensor data, enhance worker safety and get accurate data regardless of weather conditions.
The two companies acquire, process, and deliver aerial data for various agencies and organizations within the federal government “at the highest levels.”
Last year, DroneUp teamed up with Israeli company Skywatch.AI to provide on-demand, automated flight insurance coverage to Part 107 pilots when they execute commercial missions delivered in the DroneUp app.
The liability coverage is carried by DroneUp at no additional charge to its participating drone pilots. After accepting a job in the DroneUp app, UAV pilots can get insurance with just a few clicks including property damage, bodily injury and privacy claims.
In September 2018 – ahead of Hurricane Florence – DroneUp collaborated with DroneInsurance.com to offer on-demand liability coverage for DroneUp pilots flying humanitarian missions in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Jason is a longstanding contributor to DroneLife with an avid interest in all things tech. He focuses on anti-drone technologies and the public safety sector; police, fire, and search and rescue.
Beginning his career as a journalist in 1996, Jason has since written and edited thousands of engaging news articles, blog posts, press releases and online content.
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