Establishes A Task Force Should Drones Be Needed In Responding To The National Emergency

The Airborne International Response Team and its public service arm Droneresponders have established a task force to be ready should a role be identified for unmanned aircraft in responding to the national emergency from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"A task force of public safety UAS leaders led by Charles Werner, Director of Droneresponders, is assembling to address potential use cases and mission planning needs for drone operations surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic," AIRT Executive Director Christopher Todd said in an email obtained by Drone Life.  "This task force will liaison with our organizational partners from the commercial sector, government officials, and other stakeholders to expedite the delivery of UAS technology and related solutions capable of assisting with the coronavirus response effort.

AIRT is also working to track drone use cases in an emergency to ensure the drone community is ready to address future pandemics. Drone Life reports that drones have been equipped with loudspeakers to make public service announcements, and some agricultural drones have been pressed into service for disinfecting large areas. Drones equipped with thermal cameras are being used to identify people with fevers, and delivery drones are ferrying supplies to patients.

"AIRT is in the process of launching a research program to help identify and track operational use cases related to the COVID-19 pandemic," Todd said in the email. "This program is being designed to document and archive drone use cases related to the coronavirus outbreak to help combat future pandemics around the globe.  Additional information about this project will be communicated within the next week."

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report