The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Rescuers training to fly new eye in the sky Emergency: Drones helping new charity locate lost climbers
Mountain rescue team members will be recruited to fly drones and help to locate people in the most inaccessible places.
The newly-formed Search and Rescue Aerial Association Scotland (SARAA-Scotland) is to use the remote-controlled craft to save people who are lost, missing or injured.
It is thought to be one of the most significant developments in mountain rescue since search dogs were introduced in the 1960s.
The association became a charity in July and is based in the Borders.
Volunteers will undergo special training to fly the drones made by York-based Flyby Technology.
The firm’s ex-military and civilian aviation instructors are led by former RAF fighter pilot and instructor Jon Parker and run courses nationwide including in Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Scottish Mountain Rescue carried out a feasibility study looking at how drones could help in search and rescue operations.
There was a clear need for them and SARAA-Scot- land now has one drone operating and hopes to have another five in action by early next year.
A top quality drone would cost £30,000 including a thermal camera and the latest high technology zoom camera.
But at the moment SARAA-Scotland is aiming to get more of the middlecost drones to cover as much of the country as they can and the one they currently use was bought for £3,500.
The team’s aim is to eventually provide cover for most of Scotland and SARAA-Scotland has been formally recognised by Police Scotland due to their high quality training.
SARAA-Scotland’s own trained operator is Tom Nash who served 15 years in the RAF as a Tornado navigator operating thermal cameras, targeting systems and weapons.
“Flyby Technology’s aviation knowledge is second to none,” he said. “Drone regulations are changing on a regular basis and Flyby will ensure we are trained
“It’s now a case of getting the funds to buy the kit we need”
to the very latest rules and regulations.
“That’s vital support for an organisation like ours that is a charity run by volunteers.”
SARAA-Scotland, which is affiliated to Scottish Mountain Rescue, has now made grant applications in a bid to buy more drones but it is always on the lookout for businesses or individual sponsors.
Chairman Dave Wright said: “We will be recruiting people to fly the drones who are already mountain rescue team members – people with a search and rescue background who can look after themselves out there.
“It’s now a case of getting the funds to buy the kit we need, distribute it and train the members.
“At the start of next year it’s hoped we will have six pilots being trained by Flyby.”