UAE approves drones for firefighting support

Drone sunset

The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority has granted approval for the use of 180 drones by firefighters in Dubai

According to reports by news agency WAM, the unmanned aircraft will reportedly be used to provide aerial support to firefighters tackling blazes in hard-to-reach areas, such as in high-rise buildings, confined spaces and warehouses containing hazardous material.

Plans to employ drones in emergency response were originally announced by Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) in 2017, and the approval will enable the project to go ahead. The drones, unveiled at the 2017 GITEX Technology Week exhibition in Dubai, will be able to provide DCD operators with live video coverage of fire and traffic incidents.

At the time of the unveiling, DCD’s Assistant Director of Smart Services, Colonel Ali Hassan Al Mutawa said that the drones would enable the organization to ‘remain fully alert while managing our resources effectively and efficiently in facing emergency situations’.

The General Civil Aviation Authority also approved the use of 870 other drones for commercial and government use as part of the same move.

Elsewhere in the UAE, healthcare provider Response Plus Holding (RPM) signed an agreement in January with aircraft services company Falcon Aviation to provide HEMS services across the country.