Florida Public Safety Drone Operations Conference (FLOCON) 2024 Dates and Location Announced

Program will feature education and training for first responders on using Drones For Good®

MIAMI – September 25, 2023 – The DRONERESPONDERS 2024 Florida Public Safety Drone Operations Conference (FLOCON) will be held from February 20-22, 2024, in Auburndale, FL, uniting first responders from across Florida and beyond who are using small, uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) for a wide variety of life and safety missions.

FLOCON 2024 will build off the inaugural event held in March 2023 to offer additional classroom education combined with targeted clinics on the tactical use of sUAS for real-world law enforcement, fire rescue, and disaster response missions. Live demonstrations of products and equipment for the ecosystem surrounding public safety drone operations will also be featured.

SunTrax, a large-scale innovative facility developed by Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise and dedicated to the research, development, and testing of emerging transportation technologies in safe and controlled environments, will again serve as the official host location for FLOCON.

“SunTrax is a world-class facility that provides an ideal venue for our goal of safely and effectively training first responders and emergency services professionals in the use of drones in compliance with Florida law,” said Sgt. Robert Dooley, UAV Program Coordinator for the Florida Highway Patrol and leadership team member for the DRONERESPONDERS Florida Public Safety Coordination Group (FLOGRU). “FLOCON 2024 will feature a robust program offering classroom-style education combined with outdoor flight clinics to provide comprehensive training for attendees.”

FLOCON has already helped train over 200 public safety agency members on how to operate drones for incident and disaster response. Organizers say FLOCON 2024 will increase capacity to accommodate additional attendees.

"SunTrax is excited to return this year as the official host venue for FLOCON 2024," said Pamela Foster, SunTrax Strategic Development Manager for Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise. "The results have shown how the use of drones can significantly impact public safety and traffic operations. SunTrax proudly continues to provide support to Florida’s first responders as they work to expand the use of this exciting technology."

FLOCON is produced by FLOGRU – a program founded in 2021 and administrated by AIRT -- the official home of DRONERESPONDERS -- with support from the Florida Peninsula Chapter of AUVSI (AUVSI Florida). Both AIRT and AUVSI Florida are non-profit programs focused on the advancement of uncrewed vehicle systems and related technologies serving the public interest. FLOGRU leaders are comprised of sUAS program managers from law enforcement, fire rescue, and disaster response organizations throughout Florida.

“What makes FLOCON unique compared to other public safety UAS training events is that it is entirely produced by first responders for first responders,” says Christopher Todd, Executive Director of AIRT. “FLOCON participants can learn in a safe and productive environment focused on helping them become more proficient at operating drones to help save lives.”

Registration for FLOCON 2024 is expected to open on Monday, October 16. Please visit flogru.org for additional details.

About FLOGRU

The DRONEREPONDERS Florida Public Safety Coordination Group (FLOGRU) is a non-profit program supporting the use of small, uncrewed aircraft systems and related technology by Florida’s first responders. FLOGRU is administered by AIRT, Inc., a Florida-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization supporting the use of uncrewed and autonomous systems for public safety and disaster response. Additional support for FLOGRU is provided by the Florida Peninsula Chapter of AUVSI, Inc., an official chapter of AUVSI, the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of uncrewed vehicle systems and robotics. For more information, please visit flogru.org

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