This summer, a group of residents in a leafy suburb of the Greek capital united in determination to prevent the nightmare of wall of flames that devours forests, farmland and homes. Continue reading
Category Archives: First Responders
NASA Tests Mobile Air Traffic Kit During Wildfire Prevention Operations
NASA researchers recently tested a mobile air traffic management kit for remote ground pilots across forests throughout Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. During the testing, U.S. Forest Service pilots remotely operated Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or drones, to drop ping pong ball-sized plastic spheres that ignited on impact, precisely burning dead brush that acts as fuel to wildfires. Continue reading
GA-ASI, CAL FIRE and CA ANG Complete Flight Demo of REAP Pod on MQ-9A
In collaboration with the California Air National Guard (CA ANG), National Guard Bureau (NGB), AT&T FirstNet, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES), and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. successfully completed a flight demonstration of the Rosetta Echo Advanced Payloads (REAP) Pod on an MQ-9A Remotely Piloted Aircraft. Continue reading
FireDrone Supports the Fire Department
Researchers from Empa and Imperial College London are developing a heat-resistant drone that can analyze the source of danger at close range in the event of a building or forest fire. This allows firefighters to optimize the strategy of a high-risk operation before entering the danger zone. Continue reading
Portuguese Drone Douses Wildfires from Above
On a still, hot May afternoon in central Portugal, a car-sized pile of brush catches fire. As the flames leap higher, a torrent of water suddenly falls from the sky. It’s not rain, however. A large drone hovers about 15m (49ft) above, a fire-proof hose dangling from its belly. Continue reading
SkySafe Launches Drone Forensics Certification Course
SkySafe, an airspace security and drone defense technology company, announced that it has launched a new certification course for drone forensics. The course will provide in-depth training on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) forensic analysis. Continue reading
Flying Lion and Iris Automation Add Airspace Awareness Capabilities for Drone as First Responder Programs
Drone service provider, Flying Lion, Inc., and safety avionics technology innovator, Iris Automation have entered into a new partnership to provide Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs with enhanced airspace awareness. This partnership will see the addition of Iris Automation’s Casia G ground-based detect and alert system to the Flying Lion suite of services. Continue reading
Man Stranded in Snowstorm without Cell Service Uses Drone to Send Message
A motorist had attempted to traverse a remote road in the U.S. Forest Service – Willamette National Forest in Oregon that is not maintained for winter travel. His vehicle became stuck in the snow and he did not have cell service to call for help (cell reception is very limited in many forested areas of Lane County). Continue reading