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Spotlight: Icarus Aerospace is a service-disabled veteran-owned business bringing UAS solutions to LE

Icarus Aerospace is one of the few in the UAS industry led by those who have served

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Company: Icarus Aerospace
Signature product: UAS Training & Integration
Website: http://www.icarusuas.com/

Icarus Aerospace, Inc. is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOB) that specializes in UAS training & consultation. Our team of experienced public safety members, aviators, and military veterans pool our collaborative training backgrounds to create classroom & scenario based education for public safety agencies on both rotary and fixed-wing platforms. Training includes various day & night missions for those in the tactical and emergency services community to help sharpen the skills needed when seconds matter!

1. Where did your company name originate from?

I was raised with a love for Greco-Roman Mythology. Since low altitude dynamic flight is the goal of most UAS missions, the name “Icarus” seemed fitting.

2. What was the inspiration behind starting your company?

The inspiration behind our company has always been to offer the best technology, tactics, and training to the men and women who serve. When we looked at the UAS industry we noticed almost no companies focused on the advanced training and integration required by public safety. As former instructors we felt we could be an asset to public safety by addressing documentation and training needs.

3. What is your signature product and how does it work?

Our signature product is our training methodology. Since many of our leadership and staff have reached the instructor level in their respective fields of expertise, we have the ability to not just fly in circles in a park or field. Our training truly focuses on how to integrate UAS operations into the current mission profiles of public safety via SBTs.

4. Why do you believe your products are essential to the law enforcement community?

As the threats faced by public safety grow, we feel bringing advanced autonomous systems and training will help mitigate risk and improve response capabilities.

5. What has been the biggest challenge your company has faced?

So far adoption has been one of the biggest challenges. With the influx of cheaply made, inexpensive equipment, many have overlooked the safety and security provided by true technology versus hobby devices. Our goal is to bring the best technology, tactics, and training to the public safety community without lowering the high standards traditionally found in our community.

6. What makes your company unique?

What makes us unique is that our company is one of the few in the UAS industry led by those who have served. Having those in leadership who have worn the uniform enables us to meet the needs of the community rather than just selling anything and everything to make money. We pride ourselves on offering the best solutions to accomplish missions.

7. What do your customers like best about you and your products?

We have found that customers appreciate the level of understanding and expertise we bring to each individual agency rather than trying the “one size fits all” approach. As former public safety members, we know that no two agencies are alike and it requires skill to modulate programs to meet the various needs within the community.

8. What is the most rewarding part of serving the first responder community?

The most rewarding part is being able to help the men and women of law enforcement as a service-disabled company. While some of us can no longer actively serve due to injuries, we are still able to use our knowledge and skillsets to create and design new tools for those on the job.

9. Do you support any charitable organizations?

We have been ardent supporters of the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA), and have been honored by the relationship we have developed with them to integrate UAS into the public safety community.

10. Is there any fun fact or trivia that you’d like to share with our users about you or your company?

Our very first UAV was named “Sophia” in memory of the character on AMC’s The Walking Dead.

11. What’s next for your company? Any upcoming new projects or initiatives?

1) We are rolling out a Counter-UAS program for aerial countermeasures.
2) We are helping the 2018 AUVSI Xponential Conference in Denver, Colorado, bring the latest and greatest to the public safety community.
3) We have been honored to partner with Argus International/Unmanned Safety Institute to grow the safety sector side of UAS.

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