First Responders

Police, fire, and search-and-rescue teams putting drones to work when minutes matter.

1,543

Articles

113

Beats covered

Reporters on beat

Oct 2

Last updated

Police

Cleveland Police Drone Policy Bans What Ohio's New Law Still Allows

Ohio's HB 251 police drone law starts Oct. 6. Cleveland's Skydio X10 rules already ban facial recognition, protest surveillance and all weapons.

Haye KestelooSep 20

Police

Boston Police Drone Wrecks a Parked Car Six Days Into Its DFR Pilot

A BRINC Responder flown by Boston police fell onto a Mazda in Brighton on September 3, less than a week after BPD sold the program on safety.

Haye KestelooSep 19

Pilot Institute host presenting the weekly drone news update covering a police drone crash, DJI Neo 3 leaks, Wingcopter's recon drone, and a drone rescue

Drone as First Responder

Boston Police Drone Crashes on a Car Days After Its DFR Launch

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. We have four stories for you this week: a Boston police drone crashes, DJI Neo 3 leaks, Wingcopter unveils a new recon drone, and a search and rescue team in Canada uses drones to save a stranded climber. Let's get to it.

Greg ReverdiauSep 18

A small white consumer camera drone hovering against a clear blue sky

Police

Police Seize Drone in Luton Airport Zone, Make No Arrest

Bedfordshire Police seized a drone inside Luton Airport's restriction zone during a festival, tracked the pilot home, and issued words of advice.

Haye KestelooSep 15

Squamish Search and Rescue rescuer roped on a cliff face on the Stawamus Chief at night, viewed through a drone's targeting crosshair.

Drones for Good

Two Drones Flew a Rope to a Climber on a 10-Inch Ledge at Night

Squamish Search and Rescue flew a floodlight drone and a line-delivery drone to get a roped-out climber off the Stawamus Chief. Here is how it worked.

Haye KestelooSep 14

DJI FlyCart 100 drone prepared by ground crew and a Nepal Army soldier on rocky terrain for flood relief supply delivery

Disaster Response

DJI FlyCart 100s Feed Nepal Flood Survivors As US Taxes Them 100%

China answered Nepal's plea with four DJI FlyCart 100s flying up to 16 relief runs a day. The US put the same aircraft in a 100% tariff bracket on Sept. 3.

Haye KestelooSep 11