We are proud to announce that Steven Katz, Vice President of Flying Lion, has been featured in the latest issue of AirBeat publication. In his insightful article, Katz delves into the evolving role of drone technology in public safety and emergency response.

Katz discusses how drones have become indispensable tools for law enforcement agencies, enhancing situational awareness, improving response times, and ensuring officer safety. He also highlights the importance of integrating drone operations with existing emergency response protocols to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.

Drawing from Flying Lion’s extensive experience in deploying drones for various public safety missions, Katz provides real-world examples of successful drone integrations. He emphasizes the need for ongoing training and collaboration between drone operators and emergency personnel to fully realize the potential of this technology.

The article also touches upon the regulatory landscape, discussing the importance of adhering to FAA guidelines and obtaining necessary waivers to operate drones in complex environments.

We invite you to read the full article to gain deeper insights into how Flying Lion is at the forefront of drone technology in public safety. You can access the publication here:AirBeat Publication.

Flying Lion Unveils FLI Town, the Nation’s First Dedicated Drone as First Responder (DFR) Training Center

FLI Town Provides a Safe, Remote Location for Uncrewed Aircraft Training, Testing & Collaboration

 

Redondo Beach, CA (March 11, 2025) – Flying Lion, Inc., a leading drone service provider, proudly announces the launch of FLI Town, the nation’s first dedicated Drone as First Responder (DFR) training center. Designed for real-world DFR training, testing, and collaboration, FLI Town provides a secure, vendor-agnostic environment with no ground risk and minimal conflict with crewed aircraft.

A Premier DFR Training Facility for Public Safety Agencies

FLI Town provides public safety agencies with realistic, scenario-based training to develop and refine DFR tactics. Agencies can participate in 20+ operational scenarios through Flying Lion-hosted or vendor-led programs, enhancing readiness in a controlled, safe setting.

Flying Lion has also secured an FAA Part 107 Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waiver up to 400 feet AGL (with no human visual observer), enabling 24/7 remote training flights from any location with an internet connection.

“The goal was to find a safe location to train remote operators on real-world calls for service, and FLI Town is the solution,” said Barry Brennan, President & Founder of Flying Lion. “Thanks to our hardware and software partners, we have built a truly special training facility where remote pilots can train without being onsite.”

 

 

An Extreme Testing Environment for UAS Technology

Beyond training, FLI Town serves as an ideal testing ground for drones and supporting technologies. Situated in the California Colorado Desert, it provides an extreme environment for hardware stress testing, with 110°F+ summer temperatures, under three inches of annual rainfall, and 348 days of sunshine per year—perfect for evaluating drone endurance and reliability.

“FLI Town is such a unique place, and we’re honored to be a training partner with Flying Lion,” said Chief Charles Werner, founder of DRONERESPONDERS. “Having a dedicated, private location for realistic DFR training with minimal ground or air risk is invaluable—this is truly one of a kind.”

A Hub for UAS Innovation & Collaboration

As a 100% vendor-agnostic facility, FLI Town provides hands-on access to top uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) solutions, allowing agencies to test, configure, and evaluate different technologies.

Flying Lion is proud to have the following UAS-industry partners supporting FLI Town:

Training Partners

• DRONERESPONDERS
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Sensor Technology

• MatrixSpace
• Tempest Weather
• uAvionix Casia-G
• uAvionix FlightStation

Hardware & Accessories

• AVSS
• DJI
• IR Tools
• Nokia
• Rohde & Schwarz

Communications

• Starlink
• T-Mobile

Software Solutions

• FlightOps
• Kongsberg Geospatial
• Motorola Solutions
• TruWeather Solutions
• Votix

About Flying Lion

Founded in 2014, Flying Lion, Inc. (FLI) is a premier drone service provider for law enforcement, public safety agencies, and municipalities. Specializing in Drone as First Responder (DFR) operations, Flying Lion offers on-demand drone air support, FAA regulatory consulting, training, staffing, dock installation and maintenance, and equipment leasing. With over 59,400 DFR missions completed—37,725+ conducted Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)—Flying Lion is a trusted leader in the industry.

To learn more, visit flyinglioninc.com.

About FLI Town

FLI Town is a privately owned training, testing, and collaboration center developed and run by Flying Lion. Situated in the deserted town of Eagle Mountain, California, FLI Town provides a controlled environment with zero ground risk and minimal air risk for Drone as First Responder (DFR) operations and training. Once home to the Kaiser Steel iron ore mine, Eagle Mountain was a thriving company town with over 4,000 residents and 400 homes before its closure in the early 1980s. Surrounded on three sides by Joshua Tree National Park, the site offers a secure, remote environment for cutting-edge drone operations and training.

To learn more, visit flyinglioninc.com/training/fli_town

 

Flying Lion Announces over 50,000 Drone as First Responder (DFR) Flights Flown
First Drone Service Provider in World to Reach this Major DFR Milestone

Redondo Beach, CA (January 7, 2025) – Drone service provider, Flying Lion, Inc., is proud to announce a major Drone as First Responder (DFR) milestone when the organization reached 55,773 DFR flights by the end of 2024 – of which over 35,000 were flown Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS.) DFR programs enable the immediate dispatch of a drone from a fixed location in response to a 911 call for real-time aerial situational awareness in advance of and to support ground units to enhance community and first responder safety.

The first DFR program was started by the Chula Vista Police Departm ent in 2018, and DFR programs have expanded to over 30 communities nationwide. With drones arriving on-scene 74% of the time before ground units arrive, these DFR programs are helping both small and large municipalities keep their communities and first responders safer.

“DFR programs save lives!” said Chief Charles Werner, founder of DRONERESPONDERS, “Flying Lion is a true leader in the DFR space, not only advocating for DFR adoption nationally but also working with individual communities to develop their own DFR programs.”

Supporting over half of the DFR Programs nationwide, Flying Lion is proud to partner with the following leading DFR vendors for both operations and training: AirData UAV, Airspace Link, AVSS, BRINC Drones, DJI, DroneSense, Flock Aerodome, Hextronics, MatrixSpace, Motorola CAPE, Nokia Drone Networks, Skydio, TruWeather Solutions, uAvionix, and VOTIX.

“We expect DFR programs will more than double in 2025 – and we’re well positioned to provide the FAA Regulatory services for BVLOS approvals along with DFR consulting, DFR Tactics Training, and operational expertise,” said Barry Brennan, Flying Lion President & Founder.  “We’re proud to partner with the leading DFR software and hardware providers who built the enabling technology – these DFR programs are keeping community members, first responders, and even suspects safer every day.”

Flying Lion is committed to supporting DFR programs through FAA regulatory consulting, training, staffing, dock installation & maintenance, and equipment leasing – all of which are needed to enable communities to develop, implement, and support their own tailored DFR program.

 

About Flying Lion

Flying Lion, Inc. (FLI) is a drone service provider to Law Enforcement, Public Safety Agencies and Municipalities. Founded in 2014, Flying Lion provides on-demand drone air support, FAA regulatory consulting, training, staffing, dock installation & maintenance, and equipment leasing with a specialty in Drone as First Responder (DFR) operations. Flying Lion has conducted over 55,700 DFR missions of which over 35,000 were conducted Beyond Visual Line of Site (BVLOS).

To learn more, visit flyinglioninc.com.

 

Barry Brennan, Flying Lion president & founder provides Drone as First Responder (DFR) Tactics Training to Santa Monica Police Department.

 

Flying Lion VP, Steven Katz, and Los Angeles Area Manager, Hiroyuki Murakami, coordinate installation of a drone-in-a-box solution.

 

 

 

We are thrilled to share that our Founder and President, Barry Brennan, recently attended Aerial Cities 2024, an exclusive, invitation-only event bringing together thought leaders and innovators in the aerial technology space.

Aerial Cities 2024 provided a unique platform for visionary discussions, fostering connections with other leaders working toward the future of smart cities and aerial solutions.

We are proud to have Barry represent our commitment to innovation and excellence in the UAS industry. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to lead the way in advancing DFR technology and its applications!

 

Aerial cities 2024 event