Page 101 - CityofArlingtonFY26AdoptedBudget

Business Plan

Strengthen Our Communities
Protect Public Well-being

Project Performance Measure(s) Department(s)
APD Aviation Unit • Operational Flight Hours Police
• Logged Missions
• Apprehensions

Summary:
The Arlington Police Department Aviation Unit deploys FY 2026 Flight Hours
Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) to support officers with 250
real-time information during a wide range of calls for 225
service. These aircraft provide critical information that 200
improve decision-making, increase officer safety, and 175
enhance outcomes. 150
125
The UAS program is committed to continuously advancing 100
75
our response capabilities through specialized training, 50
modern tactics, and state-of-the-art equipment. This allows 25
us to deliver more efficient and effective service to the -
citizens of Arlington. 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

Field Operations
Field Operations represents the majority of the UAS DFR (RTCC) Flights
deployments. In these cases, trained pilots launch UAS 120
platforms upon request to assist with calls for service.
These missions are not constrained by battery limitations, 100
as multiple sets of batteries and team-based support allow 80
extended coverage. This model is flexible and scalable,
enabling support across various types of incidents, from 60
missing persons to perimeter overwatch.
40
Drone as a First Responder (DFR) 20
The Drone as a First Responder is an advanced program is
operated from our Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) and -
enables semi-autonomous drone launches directly to active 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr
scenes. The goal is to arrive ahead of ground units,
providing immediate situational awareness. This capability
allows first responders to better assess threats, locate FY 2026 Pilot Entries
suspects, and coordinate resources. As the department 700
expands its DFR dock infrastructure and expand Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) authorized coverage areas, 600
the impact of this program is expected to grow significantly. 500
400

300
200
100

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1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr

FY 2026 Proposed Budget and Business Plan 95 City of Arlington, Texas