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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