January 31, 2020 - Hershey, PA
As the popularity of drones continues to increase across the country, the Wolf Administration highlighted the danger these unmanned aircraft can pose to helicopters in emergency situations. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there are more than 1.5 million drones registered in the United States, and they are being used for everything from recreation to commercial and military applications.The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC), the Department of Health (DOH) and Penn State Health Life Lion Critical Care Transport came together at the PSP Academy in Hershey to discuss how drones in the airspace can not only delay connecting individuals to the care or help they need, but also put the operators in harm's way."PennDOT is excited about the potential that drone technology holds," said Jennie Granger, PennDOT's Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation. "But as with any new technology, it's critical that safety is at the forefront of the conversation, and that all drone operators follow FAA regulations when operating."
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