APSCON RECAP

The Airborne Public Safety Association Convention returned to Reno, Nevada for the 2022 show.

By AerialFire Staff

Photos by Ryan Mason

The Airborne Public Safety Convention (APSCON) returned to 'the biggest little city in the world," Reno, Nevada, in 2022, bringing over 1,100 attendees and 157 vendors on the show floor.

This year's show was the first time the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA) combined APSCON with the APSA Unmanned show for public safety professionals in the drone area. This proved a worthwhile combination as the unmanned and regular APSCON classes were very well attended through the first half of the week, with classes held at the Peppermill Resort and Casino.

The show floor opened for the first time on the evening of July 27th with an opening ceremony headed up by APSA board members, president Richard Bray and CEO Dan Schwartzbach, who joined Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam, who cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the show.

Many key vendors anchored the show floor in the airborne public safety arena, such as Teledyne/FLIR, Airbus Helicopters, MD Helicopters, and Bell Helicopter. This year's event saw the highly anticipated return of the Teledyne/FLIR Vision Awards, which was the most well-attended event of the vendor-sponsored events throughout the show. Teledyne/ FLIR personality Brian Spillane again headed up the award ceremony.

Another well-attended event at the show was the annual APSA board meeting and breakfast. The breakfast saw the awarding of scholarships to deserving family members of APSA members from agencies around the world and keeping the membership base up to date with annual financials and the state of the organization. Recent staff changes were also announced as long-time staff members Don Roby, and Bryan Smith move out of their roles in education and safety, replaced by industry veteran Terry Palmer and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Special Agent Cory DeArmitt, respectively.

Overall, the 2022 APSCON show was a resounding success for the board, staff, and attendees, who are now looking forward to the 2023 show that will return to Orlando, Florida.

Top: APSCON attendees had a variety of training sessions available.

Middle: APSA President Richard Bray opens the APSCON show in Reno with Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam.

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