First Responders

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

1,564

Articles

116

Beats covered

Reporters on beat

Oct 22

Last updated

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

Skydio X10 drone resting on a rooftop dock with the dome of the Cathedral of Saint Paul out of focus behind it

DFR

St. Paul Pulls $200K Police Drone Grant. There Was No Plan B

St. Paul's council withdrew a $200,000 grant request for more police drones a week after the deputy chief said there was no other money to expand.

Haye KestelooSep 10

Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, in camouflage uniform, gestures toward a large projection screen headed Community of Action that lists dozens of federal agency names and seals, with a JIATF 401 crest on the stage below.

Counter-Drone

1,500 US Agencies Are About To Get Counter-Drone Powers

A new federal rule lets certified local agencies detect and disable drones. The government expects about 1,500 of them to sign up within two years.

Haye KestelooSep 10

Pilot Institute host speaking at a desk with a drone displayed on a stand in the studio background

DOCKET 26-189

I Scored Every FCC Drone Ban Comment. On the Money Question It Was 1,701 to One.

Pilot Institute coded all 3,824 readable filings in FCC docket 26-189 against the 11 questions the Commission actually asked. Here is what the record says.

Greg ReverdiauSep 9

Saint Paul skyline and Mississippi River seen from the West Side neighborhood

DFR

St. Paul Votes on Police Drones Two Days After Pond Rescue

St. Paul's council decides Wednesday whether police can chase a $200,000 federal grant for more drones. Two members have already said no.

Haye KestelooSep 9

Captain Kyle Nordfors in a grey Weber County Sheriff's Office uniform stands between two other award recipients, each holding a glass trophy, in front of a blue and white backdrop.

DOCKET 26-189

Utah SAR Captain To FCC: Your Drone Ban Will Cost American Lives

Weber County rescue pilot Kyle Nordfors told the FCC no US-made drone matches what his team flies, and offered to prove it. His full comments, and how to file yours before midnight.

Haye KestelooSep 2

First Responders

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