Georgia Center of Innovation Helps Aerospace Company Skyfire Consulting Fly Higher
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): The term may sound intimidating, but from agriculture and mining to filmmaking and insurance, there are a number of industries where unmanned aircraft systems, known more commonly as drones, have become a surprisingly important tool in a variety of industries. Over the last five years, the market has skyrocketed in growth due to their popularity and multiple uses.
Support from the government of the State of Georgia has been part of the picture from the beginning, thanks in part to the aerospace team at the Center of Innovation. These specialists have made their mark by growing the entire ecosystem in the state, working with companies of all sizes to ensure the “top state for business” continues to innovate alongside industry partners.
For example, one Atlanta startup in particular is using drone technology to make its mark on a worldwide industry that’s part of nearly every community: public safety. Not only is the technology used in traditional settings for event security and incident response, but it is even being used to help fight forest fires.
Marietta-based Skyfire Consulting has become a leading authority on developing safe and legal drone programs for public safety enterprises. The company, started by three Emory University graduates and a flight instructor, has worked with nearly 500 public safety agencies across the country to introduce the Drone as a First Responder (DFR) model. Within minutes, drones can arrive at the scene of an incident to capture video information and data that can help first responders and manned response teams better understand the situation prior to arrival.
In addition to working with agencies like the Houston Fire Department, the California Department of Forestry, and the Chula Vista Police Department (the first DFR program in the United States), Skyfire Consulting has also helped increase safety right here in Georgia, teaming up with the Atlanta Police Department and, most recently, the City of Brookhaven to develop DFR models.
“I feel like we’re truly a Georgia-grown company,” says Matt Sloane, Skyfire Consulting’s CEO and one of the Emory co-founders. “It’s really important to get hometown agencies to be players with us.”
Skyfire Consulting views itself as a smaller “player” in the much larger Georgia aerospace ecosystem, which is home to 800 aerospace companies and has an estimated $45.2 billion impact, but it’s felt just as much support as the “bigger” players, especially from the Georgia Center of Innovation’s Aerospace team.
The Georgia Center of Innovation is the state’s leading resource for facilitating business innovation – taking ideas further, faster – and a key resource for economic development for companies of all sizes. As the only center of its kind in the country, its complimentary services help companies of all sizes clear the path to innovation through expert advice and matchmaking with the right resources, and harnessing existing relationships within Georgia’s extensive network of strategic industry organizations.
Part of that work has been providing opportunities and assistance to Skyfire the same way the state provides attention and resources to all of its aerospace companies. For Skyfire, this has included major connections to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), local governments, and Georgia Tech; providing speaker and award opportunities (Skyfire was recently awarded the Georgia Small Business ROCK STAR Award); and support to expand the company’s reach.
Skyfire also benefits from the fact that Georgia is a major leader in Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The State has been ahead of the pack in identifying the potential and promise of drones. In fact, the Georgia Center of Innovation’s Aerospace team created the Unmanned Aircraft Systems working group in the state 10 years ago, five years prior to the FAA authorizing commercial operations for drones.
“We started to ask, ‘what are the opportunities to grow and involve ourselves more in this space,’” says Amy Hudnall, Director of the Georgia Center of Innovation’s Aerospace team. “We’ve continued as a state to develop our UAS ecosystem, which Skyfire has really plugged into. We want to be as forward-thinking as possible for the companies we partner with.”
Skyfire itself has been inspired by this forward-thinking mindset. In March 2020, the company acquired Viking Unmanned Aerial Systems, a drone engineering and manufacturing company, to start producing its own drones for use in public safety. By moving into drone manufacturing, the startup is further cementing itself as a key player, no matter its size, in one of the state’s strongest industries.
To connect with the Georgia Center of Innovation to identify ways to help your Georgia business accelerate your business ideas, visit georgia.org/innovation.
-Posted October 21, 2022