Host: Samantha Gibson

Guest: Michael Healander of Airspace Link

Topic: A start-up firm based in Detroit is now working with counties and other local governments to ensure that safety comes first in airspace increasingly filled with drones.

Michael Healander of Airspace Link spoke with MAC’s Samantha Gibson in a new special episode of Podcast 83 on his firm’s work and what the challenges are ahead for county governments.

“Our primary focus is government agencies,” Healander said. “Even though we have hundreds of thousands of commercial operators that use our system. Think of us as the systems to support who's flying and the safety and security of our airspace.”

Airspace Link is a Federal Aviation Administration-approved UAS Service Supplier of the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) and is approved to provide B4UFLY Services. Airspace Link provides airspace authorizations to both Part 107 Pilots and Recreational Flyers through the AirHub Portal application.

“The county is in a unique situation. I'll give an example. Oakland County, in their drone program. They have the capabilities to have drones go out in an emergency and support search and rescue; it’s a very successful program,” Healander noted.

“So, we're seeing some counties start to say, ‘Here's a common network and platform that maybe we push down to our cities. And this is a really great opportunity for counties to take the lead, to be able to put it in a common system …”

See video versions of all Podcast 83 episodes on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@michiganassociationofcount2606

Visit the Podcast 83 page at www.micounties.org