Drone Unit

picture of a drone being tested

Capitalizing on the recent increases in the availability and capabilities of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS), or "drones" in March of 2021 the Town of Oak Island launched a UAS Services Division, now referred to as the Drone Unit and housed under the Fire Department.   

This division operates a Public Safety Drone Unit which is comprised of one full-time drone pilot and several part time pilots. The unit maintains six drones of various sizes and capabilities, which are always ready to operate at public safety events, assist Town Departments, or even provide mutual aid to neighboring communities.

Drone Use

Drones, and the piloting of drones are governed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Drones over a certain weight are required to be registered with the FAA, equipped with an ID Broadcasting device, and the pilot licensed through the FAA. Regardless of weight, if a drone is used for any form of compensation, the pilot must also be licensed. Drones are permitted to operate during dusk or at night if they are equipped with anti-collision lighting 

SAFETY NOTE: We understand that seeing an unrecognized drone hovering overhead can be concerning, and even lead to significant anxiety. While we can't answer for every drone you may encounter, please know that the drones used by the Town of Oak Island are valuable tools, dedicated to protecting and saving lives, operated by dedicated first responders within our community. As always, if you do encounter a drone that you feel is acting suspicious or operating in a manner which may be unlawful, CALL 9-1-1 FIRST to have responders dispatched to investigate.

Services Provided

The Unit assists multiple Town Departments, providing services for: 

  • Search & Rescue Operations
  • Police Operations Support
  • Infrastructure Inspections
  • Infrastructure Project Monitoring
  • Pre & Post-Storm Inspection  
  • Beach Ordinance Enforcement
  • Beach Safety Observation
  • ... and MORE!

Drone pilots maintain FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot Certification, NCDOT Drone Operators Permit, FAA Recurrent Training.

Videos

Use the playlist below to view the most recent videos captured by the Drone Division for the Town of Oak Island. 

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