The shape of things to come for search and rescue in Cairngorms?
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New technology which could drive the next generation of search and rescue for Her Majesty’s Coastguard is being tested.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is leading work with the Civil Aviation Authority on how remotely piloted aircraft technology can be used in the demanding environment of search and rescue.
The MCA began its own evaluation back in May 2018 with a joint challenge with the RNLI to the aviation industry and has since been laying the foundation stones for its future use in potentially saving lives as part of rescue operations.
Now more test flights have been carried out during the first two weeks of September using the Elbit Systems Hermes 900 as part of a programme of events in West Wales.
In partnership the MCA and Elbit Systems UK are exploring how the use of remotely piloted aircraft could support the work of HM Coastguard.
This is in addition to ongoing evaluations being carried out by Bristow Helicopters in North Wales evaluating a remotely piloted aircraft in simulated and recently real-time search and rescue operations.
Although the Hermes 900 is not currently being used in live operations in the UK, it will be flying in the colours of HM Coastguard and the assessment will further add to the ongoing work around using future technology in its work.
As well as for search and rescue and safety overwatch, the remotely piloted aircraft could potentially be used for counter pollution work providing vital live video and still photographs of ongoing incidents.
Following the completion of the trial activity at West Wales Airport, near Aberporth, a report will be published at the end of this year which will identify the key components of work that will be required to achieve regular, routine Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS) flights in any class of airspace in the future.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Drones have the potential to help us in so many aspects of our lives. From search and rescue missions, to delivering critical medicines – we’re exploring how this new technology could revolutionise our emergency responses. I’m proud to see the UK lead the way in trialling these technologies which could lead to saving many more lives.”
Claire Hughes, Director of HM Coastguard, said: “We continue to do all we can to use existing technology as well as look to the future in our ongoing work of saving lives at sea.
"Remotely piloted aircraft continue to be a big part of that work both to potentially save lives in search and rescue and protect our beautiful coastlines from the worst effects of pollution.”
The Hermes 900 remotely piloted aircraft has a wing-span of 15 metres.
Its features include an advanced Maritime search radar, satellite communication system and automatic identification and emergency position indicating radio beacon receivers.
