Published Jan. 8, 2020
DRA grant allows faculty to share expertise with law enforcement
A University of Louisiana Monroe social media hashtag is #takeflight – and that’s
happened when a select group of Louisiana law enforcement, firefighters and first
responders were trained in drone technology by the team from the ULM Precision AG and UAS Research Center.
CAPTION: Paul Karlowitz, associate professor and director of the ULM Precision AG and UAS
Research Center, and Stephanie Robinson, manager, trained 30 law enforcement officers,
firefighters and first responders in the operation of unmanned aircraft systems (aka
drones) and FAA Part 107 remote pilot certification. Here, Karlowitz is on the left
beside the brick sign and Robinson is first on the left in front of the sign.
Photo courtesy of LDPS
Paul Karlowitz has been on the ground at ULM for more than 20 years teaching aviation and UAS (unmanned
aircraft systems) – aka drone – technology in the College of Business and Social Sciences. Karlowitz has 46 years as a professional aviator, including 20 years as a U.S. Air
Force pilot.
Karlowitz practically peered into the future, realizing several years ago that the
only way for UAS technology, was up.
In 2014 he helped establish and became director of operations for the ULM Precision
AG and UAS Research Center.
In fall 2019, Karlowitz’s expertise was tapped by the Louisiana Department of Public
Safety to lead its first training class on how to operate and become licensed to fly
UAS.
He, along with Stephanie Robinson, aviation major and manager of the research center who is an FAA Part 107 drone pilot,
traveled to the LSP Joint Emergency Training Services Center in Zachary weekly from
Sept. 19 through Nov. 2 to teach the Friday class. The ULM team gave instructions
on the complexities and techniques of managing UAS and FAA Part 107 certification.
In 2018, a $90,000 Delta Regional Authority Workforce Development grant entitled “Training
the Trainer Using Unmanned Aerial Systems” was awarded to Karlowitz and other UAS-qualified
ULM faculty to teach people how to operate and become certified in UAS.
“There is more to using a UAS than sending it up in your backyard,” Karlowitz said.
“These are expensive and complex devices. The technology is advancing rapidly with
new applications and uses, including those for law enforcement/fire/first responders.
Operators must know how to use the equipment properly, understand the technology,
and be certified by the FAA to fly UAS.”
Anyone flying a drone for other than hobby use needs an FAA Part 107 certificate.
“The recent arrangement with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety has proven
to be of benefit for all involved,” Karlowitz said. “They needed UAS training along
with FAA Part 107 (Remote Pilot Certificate) training. It matched perfectly with our
DRA grant.”
“I am absolutely delighted to have had the opportunity to provide the training. When
we (ULM) are awarded grant funds, we take it seriously and want to provide the most
training possible,” Karlowitz said, adding, “Without the assistance of Stephanie,
I would not be able to have completed this training program. Her help was invaluable.”
Thirty law enforcement/fire/first responders and one officer from the ULM Police Department
completed the training.
ULM’s Precision AG and UAS Research Center have been working with cutting edge UAS
technology for several years. The center and the College of Business and Social Sciences
UAS Management Program have a national reputation for excellence. Currently, ULM is
one of a select group of universities conducting research on UAS applications for
the agriculture industry.
