NTSB Working to Streamline Drone Program

Safety agency does not have a centralized system for tracking its drones, which are used to capture video and photos of incidents.

Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 04:40 PM ET

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An NTSB air safety investigator begins the initial examination of the wreckage of a Pilatus PC-12 that crashed in Chamberlain, South Dakota, on November 30, 2019, at 12:30 p.m. CT shortly after departure from Chamberlain Municipal Airport. [Credit: NTSB]

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB is seeking a cloud-based software solution to manage and track its expanding drone fleet and associated personnel.
This initiative aims to replace the agency's current "archaic" manual tracking methods, which have become inefficient for its recently enlarged UAS program.
The drone program has significantly grown from 5 to 12 drones and 4 to 15 crewmembers, and the new management system is expected to improve the effectiveness and integrity of NTSB's accident investigations.

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is working to enhance its drone program by seeking a cloud-based software provider for fleet management, according to a recent federal contract posting.

The agency intends to use this software to more effectively track its increasing number of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), which are vital for investigating accidents. The NTSB does not have a centralized system for tracking its drones, which are used to capture video and photos of incidents and perform mapping and photogrammetry.

Amelia Walsh

Amelia Walsh is a private pilot who enjoys flying her family’s Columbia 350. She is based in Colorado and loves all things outdoors including skiing, hiking, and camping.