Eyes in the air when every minute counts
Search areas covered faster, fire and flood seen from above, and damage recorded for the people planning the next move. We fly only when the agency in charge asks.
Where a drone helps in an emergency
In an emergency the scarce thing is information. Where is the person, where is the fire front, which way is the water moving, which buildings are occupied. A drone launched from the ground in a few minutes answers some of those questions from a height no one on foot can reach, and it does it without putting another crew member on a slope, a roof or a flooded road.
Search and rescue. A drone scans open ground, shoreline and clearings quickly and sends live video to the search manager. Thermal cameras can pick up a warm body against cool ground, especially at night or at first light. Because a drone deploys fast, it can cover likely areas while ground teams are still moving in.
Wildfire and structure fire. From above, crews see the extent of the fire, spot fires, hot spots through smoke with thermal imaging, and where access routes are open. After the fire, a mapping flight records what burned and what survived for the insurer, the owner and the municipality.
Flood. Aerial images show where water is rising, which way it is heading, which buildings need to be evacuated first and which roads are still passable. Repeated flights over the same area build a record of how the flood moved.
Earthquake and other disasters. A drone can identify damaged and occupied buildings such as schools and hospitals so rescue teams focus where people may be trapped, and it can document damage for engineers and insurers once the scene is safe.
Who can fly near an emergency, and when
| Topic | Canada | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfires | The Canadian Aviation Regulations restrict all aircraft, drones included, from flying over or near a forest fire area without authorization. In BC, the Wildfire Service's message is plain: if you fly, we can't. An unauthorized drone grounds firefighting aircraft. | Temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) are placed over wildfires and other incidents. Flying a drone in one without authorization is a federal offence. |
| Other incidents | NAV CANADA may issue a NOTAM restricting airspace around an incident. The agency in charge controls the scene, and a drone flies only as part of its response. | The FAA can authorize drone operations in a TFR through its special governmental interest process, usually at the request of the responding agency. |
| Pilot certificate | Advanced Operations for controlled airspace or near people. Many incidents are near roads, towns or airports. | Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107), plus any authorization the incident needs. |
| Privacy | Images of people in distress are sensitive. They go to the agency, not to social media. | The same, and agency policies usually govern retention. |
Planning before the emergency, flying during it
Agree it in advance
The best time to add drones to an emergency plan is before one happens. We agree contacts, call-out steps, the formats the agency wants and how images are handed over.
The agency calls
We fly only when the incident commander or the agency in charge asks. We never self-deploy to a scene.
Fly under direction
The crew reports to the agency's designated contact, stays within the airspace the incident allows and lands immediately when asked, for example when a helicopter or air tanker is inbound.
Hand over the data
Live video goes to the command post. Photos, maps and thermal images go to the agency on one project record, not in a pile of emailed files.
Document the aftermath
Once the scene is safe, a mapping flight records the damage for engineers, owners and insurers.
Why drones sometimes make an emergency worse
Hobby drones over fires
One unauthorized drone near a wildfire can ground every firefighting aircraft on it until it is gone.
Images nobody can find
Footage lives on a pilot's phone, gets texted in pieces and is lost when the incident ends.
No plan until the day
Working out contacts, airspace and data handover during the incident wastes the minutes that matter.
Who the drone crew works for
Incident commander
- They need from you
- Current information, and no surprises in their airspace.
- You need from them
- A single point of contact and clear limits.
- On the DroneLink record
- The crew reports to the commander's designated contact and flies only what is asked.
Search manager
- They need from you
- Areas cleared quickly and a record of what was covered.
- You need from them
- The search segments and the subject's description.
- On the DroneLink record
- Flights are planned by segment; coverage and sightings are logged with location.
Municipality and utilities
- They need from you
- Damage extent, affected roads and lines, and a record for recovery funding.
- You need from them
- Access once the scene is released.
- On the DroneLink record
- A mapping flight after the event gives a measurable record. See municipalities and utilities.
Questions
Can you send a drone to an emergency right now?
We fly at an emergency only when the agency in charge asks us to and coordinates the flight. If you are an agency, call us to agree a procedure in advance so a call-out is quick when it is needed. If you are a member of the public, call 911.
Can a drone fly at night?
Yes, within the rules and with the right lighting and crew. Thermal cameras are often most useful at night, when a person or a hot spot stands out against cool ground.
Who owns the images from an emergency flight?
The agency that asked for the flight. We hand everything over and keep nothing public. Images of people in distress are never used for our own marketing.
Can you fly near a wildfire?
Only with authorization from the agency managing the fire. Near a forest fire, unauthorized flying is prohibited under the Canadian Aviation Regulations and it can ground firefighting aircraft.
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