Drone plan for Japanese fire services

Japanese newspaper the Yomiuri Shimbun has reported on plans for firefighting departments across the country to be supplied with remotely piloted helicopters. The aircraft, which will be delivered by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, part of the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, by 2018, will be used for search and rescue missions.

The Government suggested that the bird’s-eye view provided by the helicopters would improve the emergency services’ ability to locate victims after disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, or to detect heat or gas at a disaster site.

In order to create an aircraft with the required endurance and ability to fly in strong winds, the National Institute of Advance Industrial Science and Technology is said to be working with other agencies and private companies.