DOWNEY, Calif., Dec. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — With volcanos, hurricanes, and an endless season of devasting California wildfires, this year has marked new milestones for the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in disasters. Experts will gather March 7-8, 2019 at the Columbia Memorial Space Center to explore how drones are evolving emergency management operations during the west coast version of the UAS DRONES Disaster Conference (UASDISCON) Los Angeles.

The UAS DRONES Disaster Conference | Los Angeles will mark the second edition of the landmark conference series launched earlier this year at Florida International University in Miami. Operated under the UAS DRONES brand, the conference will unite leaders, experts, and UAS operators across government, industry, and academia for two-days of presentations, workshops, and live flight demonstrations of the latest UAS technology for public safety.

“This has been a very tough year with major disasters again striking across the U.S., especially in California” says Benjamin Dickow, Executive Director of the Columbia Memorial Space Center. “Unmanned aviation is poised to revolutionize public safety missions, and Southern California will be a region where this new technology is frequently put to the test.”

Unlike other conferences, the UAS DRONES Disaster Conference is specifically tailored toward addressing the needs of all stakeholders using unmanned aviation and aerospace systems and related technologies for disasters. Expert insight, panel workshop discussions, and live flight demonstrations will all be geared toward helping public safety, emergency management, and industry professionals better understand and implement drones, the benefits they offer, and how to integrate the technology with other systems.

“It’s vital for public safety agencies to share information when undertaking a UAS program,” says Charles Werner, Chair of the National Council on Public Safety UAS. “The UAS DRONES Disaster Conference in Los Angeles will provide law enforcement, fire rescue, and emergency medical service personnel with specific UAS insight tailored to the regional needs of Southern California and the western U.S.”

The Columbia Memorial Space Center will provide an intimate, VIP-style setting for the conference, says Dickow. He points to the rich aviation heritage of the Downey area as being a perfect backdrop to showcase emerging UAS technology that will help serve the greater good.

Proceeds from the UAS DRONES Disaster Conference series will benefit the Airborne International Response Team (AIRT), a 501(c)3 non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Miami that provides unmanned aviation and aerospace capabilities to help people prepare for, respond to, and recover from complex emergencies and major disasters.

Registration for the UAS DRONES Disaster Conference | Los Angeles is now open with special early bird ticket pricing available through January 31 or while supplies last. Attendees who register via LA.uasdrones.org will receive the special price of $245, representing $50 off the normal conference pass price $295.

For more information on UAS DRONES Disaster Conference | Los Angeles, please visit http://la.uasdrones.org or contact Martha Donato at mdonato@uasdrones.org

About AIRT, Inc.
AIRT® (Airborne Incident Response Team) is a Florida-registered 501(c)3 non-profit corporation who provides innovative aviation and aerospace resources to help prepare for, respond to, and recover from complex emergencies and major disasters. AIRT is building the World’s Largest Air Force® for #aviationforgood. Our global remote pilot network is ready to #getup whenever disaster strikes. For more information, visit: http://airt.ngo

About Columbia Memorial Space Center
The Columbia Memorial Space Center is a non-profit organization based in Downey, California that serves as the official living tribute to the Space Shuttle Columbia and its crew. Situated on the site where NASA designed and built all of the Apollo and Shuttle spacecraft, the Space Center offers exhibits and hands-on STEM programs to the public, igniting a community of creative and critical thinkers. For more information: http://columbiaspacescience.org

SOURCE UAS DRONES