b'OPERATIONSTUL77Weve also spotted people stealing copper at off-airport properties.The airport also uses drones with thermal cameras to inspect the rooftops of hangars, the terminal and other structures. The cameras detect heat loss, allowing crews to make energy-saving repairs. The Engineering Department recently requested drone flights to help monitor progress on two construction projects: a taller air traffic control tower and an updated International Customs Facility. The airport expects to complete the approximately 45,000-square-foot, $41 million Customs facility later this year. The roughly $112 million, 257-foot-tall control tower is scheduled to be completely operational in early 2027. The contractor building the control tower requested daily drone flights. It reviews photos taken during them to identify and address safety infractions.The drones periodically take videos of Three of the drones TUL uses wereAfter obtaining a commercial operatorsboth projects to update board trustees manufactured by Autel Robotics: anlicense and an FAA certificate of waiverat the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust, EVO II Pro 640T that cost about $4,600that allows certain kinds of drone flightswhich manages and operates the city-when it was purchased in late 2023 andthat would otherwise be prohibited, Dahlowned airport.two earlier EVO II Pro models that costfirst used the drones for airfield pavement approximately $2,700 and $3,400 (theinspections, supplementing the FAA-latter is equipped with a thermal camera).required inspections performed daily by The fourth unit, an X10 model froman agent in a pickup truck. Skydio Inc., was purchased this July forThe perspective from 50 to 75 feet $20,000. It was more expensive becauseup is a lot different, as you can imagine, it has advanced features, includingDahl explains. You see things you regular and thermal-imaging cameras.otherwise might not see. Dahl notes that having several capabilities in the same unit increases efficiencyDrone operators also can record photosLEADER OFand videos during flights. Comparing because operators dont need to makecurrent images to those taken, say, oneAIRFIELDseparate flights to achieve multiple missions.year ago can reveal progressive pavementCLEANINGdeterioration that otherwise might go undetected, Dahl notes. SOLUTIONSProgram Takes FlightImproving Performance,The airports current drone program beganPrioritizing Safety, Driving CostOther Applications Efficiency, and Promotingin 2022, when a couple of OperationsThe drone program eventually expandedSustainability at airportsagents decided to used two drones,worldwide.to include tasks such as wildlife surveys.Our Products:purchased around 2018, for more thanThis allows the Operations staff to beRunway Rubber Removerjust taking photos. Then Dahl took overmore proactive than reactive about deer,Paint Removersthe program and completely revamped it. Mold and Mildew Removerscoyotes, birds, etc.Concrete & Building CleanersI started thinking about how we couldRust Removers & Aircraft CleanersBy using the thermal camera, weveFree Trial Samples on all Productsutilize them to make our jobs easier, hespotted wildlife close to the airfield recalls. Over time, weve looked at whatthat we otherwise wouldnt have seen we do and integrated the drones intobecause it was dark, Brown points out.Visit Our Websitethose operations whenever possible. Call Us www.aerogreen.us540-450-8375AirportImprovement.comOctober 2025'