Interview with the Fire Department of New York – How to Safely and Successfully Implement a FireFighting Drone Program
In today’s show, we are joined by John and Mike from the Fire Department of New York to discuss the nuances of implementing a successful fire fighting drone program.
What are the End Uses of FireFighting Drones?
This show starts with John and Mike describing the various end uses for firefighting drones. Listeners will learn how firefighting drones equipped with EO and thermal cameras enable accurate inspections of large scale fires.
In this segment of the show, you will also learn how information captured via drones can be relayed for real-time monitoring by the command center.
Which is the Best Firefighting Drone?
Next, we segue into a discussion on equipment. Often fire departments end up purchasing wrong and expensive equipment and wasting the taxpayer’s money.
The best firefighting drone, John and Mike reveal is compact and quick & easy to set up. Currently, the FDNY is using the Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual. What makes the Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual a great firefighting drone? And, why did FDNY transition from the Phantom 4 Pro to the Enterprise Dual?
Is it possible to capture accurate thermal data given the small sensor size on the Dual? And, does the absence of Atti Mode make the Dual challenging to fly in NYC where you will encounter substantial interference?
Furthering our discussion on firefighting drones, we also make an interesting comparison between tethered and un-tethered drones. While you can fly for extremely long hours using tethered drones, on the flip side, you will have to deal with restricted mobility. Moreover, tethered drones are often perceived to be safer of the two. Is this correct? Considering both the pros and cons, should you opt for tethered firefighting drones?
How is the FDNY Training their Drone Pilots?
“Departments have to look at the bigger picture than the purchase of a drone. It doesn’t stop there…with their funding. There is training involved. There is manpower involved. Just because they get a grant to purchase a drone doesn’t mean that it stops there”
~Mike, FDNY
In this segment of the show, we discuss how standardized operating procedures are necessary for systematic and scalable drone operations.
Other topics discussed on this show are the complexities of navigating airspace, overcoming negative perception and the need to get rid of red tape issues. This is a show you do not want to miss. Tune in now!
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Timestamps
- [00:30] Paul welcomes John and Mike from the Fire Department of New York
- [01:10] How are firefighting drones being used by FDNY?
- [02:05] How drones are being used for thermal and visual inspections of large scale fires
- [03:02] How information captured via drones can be relayed via Livestreams for real-time monitoring
- [04:00] Which firefighting drones are being used by the FDNY?
- [04:30] Important considerations for purchasing drone equipment for fire safety
- [05:23] Why did FDNY decide to transition from tethered drones to untethered drones?
- [07:17] Is flying firefighting drones in areas of heavy interference a challenge?
- [09:00] Did FDNY have to overcome negative perception when they first started using drones for fire safety?
- [10:04] Why has FDNY painted their Mavic 2 Pro’s a bright red?
- [11:13] Importance of establishing standard flying procedures for using drones for fire safety
- [14:00] Is it a challenge for the FDNY to scale up their drone program?
- [16:55] Are firefighting drones safe to operate?
- [17:33] Advice for fire departments who are thinking of starting their own drone programs
- [18:15] Drone wish list – Is there a perfect drone for fire safety?
- [19:15] Is it difficult for the fire department of file NOTAM’s and keep a tab on TFR’s given the nature of their job?
- [22:12] How to purchase the right fire fighting drone equipment
- [23:28] Parting Advice – How can fire departments build a successful drone program?
- [24:21] How are bureaucratic issues hampering the successful implementation of drone programs?
