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Drone rescue operation: two DJI Phantom 4s get stuck in 140-foot-high trees

Project turns into drone rescue operation after two DJI Phantom 4's get stuck in 140-foot-high oak trees

This is a story of how two  Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 drones (DJIAmazon) ended up in two 140-foot-high white oak trees. And how they were safely retrieved during our drone rescue operation last weekend. Without pointing fingers, we’ll take a look at what went wrong, what went right, and what lessons can be learned for future drone operations. Best to grab a cup of coffee for this somewhat lengthy story.


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Connecticut police use drone to find disoriented blind man

Connecticut police use drone to find a disoriented blind man

In Enfield, Connecticut, police used a drone to find a blind man who had walked away from home and became disoriented. The police said they were contacted by a family member of the man on Saturday morning around 8:45 am. Family members told the police that they were unable to make contact with the man which was uncommon.


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DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual helps hurt hiker rappel 400 ft during rescue at Snow Canyon State Park, UT

Drone helps hurt hiker rappel 400 ft during rescue Snow Canyon State Park

A drone helped a hurt hiker rappel 400 feet during a daring rescue at Snow Canyon State Park in Utah on Sunday. It was the first time an unmanned aircraft was used this way by the Washington County Search and Rescue team.

Update: we just got confirmation from the Washington County Sheriff Search and Rescue that the drone in question was a DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual with an aftermarket drop system. Impressive!


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DJI urges authorized drone users to prepare for Hurricane Dorian

U.S. Dept. of the Interior independently validates DJI Government Edition

Earlier today, DJI sent out this message to all rescue and recovery drone operators urging them to get ready and prepare now for post-storm operations. In the same statement, the Chinese drone maker warns all other drone pilots to follow the FAA guidance and to not fly in affected areas. You do not want to be that person that is responsible for halting a rescue operation, because you thought it was a good idea to get some aerial footage of the aftermath of Hurrican Dorian. Drone pilots who interfere with emergency response could face fines as high as $20,000.


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Public safety drone programs must expect intense scrutiny

Public safety drone programs must expect intense scrutiny

Managing an unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) program can be a challenging endeavor. There are a myriad of regulations, technical challenges, and operational issues that every program manager must contend with. But managing a public safety UAS program can be even more daunting – especially in communities where privacy is paramount and distrust of “big brother” lingers in the air.


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Drone helps ground crews put out spot fire in Chalkyitsik Complex

Drone helps ground crews put out spot fire in Chalkyitsik Complex

Romeo Durscher, DJI’s Director of Public Safety Integration, shared a short video on Facebook that shows how a drone helped ground crews put out a spot fire in the Chalkyitsik Complex, Alaska. The aerial view that an unmanned aircraft provides, helps firefighters locate a small fire in dense vegetation. Small fires like these can be hard to spot from the ground and that is when drones can come to the rescue.


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DJI M210 drone locates missing girl during Fourth Friday event in Westerville, OH

DJI M210 Drone locates missing girl

During a drone demonstration by local fire and police departments in Ohio, a demo flight turned into a real search and rescue operation when a father asked Fire Chief Brian Miller and Police Cpl. Justin Alloway to help locate his nine-year-old daughter. It all happened during the Fourth Friday event last week in Westerville when thousands of people crowd the streets of the Ohio town. Hannah, the missing girl, had walked ahead of her family and the father couldn’t find her anymore. Luckily, the DJI M210 drone located the girl within minutes and reunited the family. Drones for good!


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Drone records rescue of man in wheelchair stuck in rising floodwaters

Drone records rescue of man in wheelchair stuck in rising floodwaters

Drone records rescue of a man in a wheelchair stuck in rising floodwaters. After spending more than 24 hours stuck in his motorized wheelchair in rising floodwaters, the 73 year-old-man from Mansfield said that he prayed to be rescued. According to local police, his family reported Jefferson missing on Saturday. The man who suffers from dementia was last seen around noon. Drones are increasingly being used during rescue operations to either find missing persons or as in this case to assist in the rescue.


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Tulsa Police Department post warning video on Facebook to keep skies safe

Tulsa Police Department post warning video on Facebook

The Tulsa police department posted this warning video on Facebook in an effort to deter hobbyist drone pilots from hindering and endangering first aid and rescue operations in the flooded areas around Tulsa, Oklahoma. Various media also reported on drones getting in the way of rescue efforts in the flooded regions. The message is clear: fly within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules and please stay out of the way of rescue operations. And, always give way to manned aircraft.


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