Drone Task Force

The Waupaca Area Fire District's Drone Task Force 

Another value piece of equipment that is available to the Waupaca Area Fire District, is the Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) or Drone.

WAFD upgraded their first aircraft from the DJI Mavic 2 Enterprices Dual ( inservice in 2019), the the new DJI Matrice 30T.  The new drone was purchased with a grant from TC Energy and fundraising donations. 

Uses for the WAFD Drone

The WAFD UAS (Drone) has many uses in the fire service.   For example, drones can provide a comprehensive picture of the initial incident. This information helps commanders determine the size of the incident, its severity, what initial resources are needed, and the overall response objectives.  The drone is a valuable tool for search and rescue.  With the thermal imaging camera, lost individual can be seen better, especially in the dark.  

Drones allow firefighters to relay high-definition video intelligence of the fireground back to central command in real time. This facilitates improved coordination with other disaster response agencies and first responders on scene. The footage and data gathered during emergency response incidents can also be used as evidence, for after-action analysis, and incorporated into future training materials.

By deploying drones in emergency situations — which are often dangerous and potentially life-threatening — fire departments are able to maintain and prioritize firefighter safety.

Our Pilots and Flight Crews:

All of the WAFD pilots and crews have undergone extensive training of the years.  Our pilot are all required to obtain the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) Part 107 Remote Pilots license. This certificate demonstrates that our pilots understand the regulations, operating requirements, and procedures for safely flying drones.  Drone pilots operating under Part 107 may fly at night, over people and moving vehicles without a waiver as long as they meet the requirements defined in the rule. 

Our flight crew/visual observers have also went through internal department training.  A Visual Observer (VO) is an flight crew member for a flight mission who serves as a second set of eyes, monitoring the drone in flight in order to support the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC).  Other members of the flight crew assist the RPIC in setting up/securing the landing zone, handling all communications with Incident Command, and other duties during any flight mission.  The Flight Crew also assists with pre and post flight duties, and also can serve as visual observers.