The Wessex Rescue Drone Unit announces it has successfully achieved CAA authorisation, a critical milestone that ensures their operations comply with regulatory standards. This milestone supports their ongoing efforts to expand capabilities and better serve the Fire & Rescue and Police services in their region.
With a training programme supported by UAV Hub and Dronedesk, the team is on track to have eleven qualified drone pilots by the end of the year to meet growing deployment demands, with six qualified pilots already and a further five in training. Their Mavic 2 Enterprise, provided by Dorset Police, has already proven highly effective during operations, including a major fire and water rescue exercise.
The unit has established a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service to provide drone support for search and rescue operations. To ensure full coverage and enhance their ability to respond effectively in emergencies, the team has identified the need for thermal capability to be implemented. This would allow them to detect heat sources, which is critical for locating missing persons. Many search operations take place during night-time hours, and the addition of thermal technology would enable the team to deploy around the clock, providing 24-hour operational readiness.
Currently, drones are deployed from the Water Rescue Vehicle, with plans for a dedicated drone vehicle in the future. This would allow greater flexibility to support the water rescue team or assist the community where needed. The use of drones has already demonstrated significant benefits, such as identifying hazards before deploying rescue personnel, reducing risks, and improving overall safety during operations.
A Call for Support: Enhancing Thermal Drone Capability
The team is committed to improving their ability to save lives and serve the community. Acquiring a thermal drone is a critical step toward achieving this goal, and they would greatly appreciate any assistance the drone community can provide in helping them make this capability a reality. If you would like to learn more about their work and financially contribute – however great or small all donations area appreciated, please find the links below.
28 January 2025