STATE Emergency Service (SES) volunteers from Scone are set to be part of a "revolutionary" drone training program at Rutherford this weekend.
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In a first for the region, members from across the Hunter Valley will learn how to utilise the technology in life-saving rescues.
The nation’s leading drone-training company, UAVAir, believes drones will not only provide a cost-effective and quicker response time, but also help protect the lives of SES volunteers.
And, Scone’s Nathan Hussey is looking forward to the devices eventually being rolled out.
“Further down the track, this will allow us to use drones in instances like storm damage, flood damage, and accessing areas that we can’t normally get to,” he says.
“It will be a massive help once it becomes available, and this is the first step towards that happening.”
The drones are also expected to be used for boat safety, water and river rescues, cliff falls, and asset inspections.
Following the success of the training, UAVAIR is planning to approach the state government and request that it fund the roll-out across the state.
UAVAir CEO Ashley Cox says drones will improve search and rescue outcomes, monitor disaster situations like bushfires, and even provide emergency equipment in remote areas.
“By delivering quality training, NSW SES will be able to adopt drones to a growing range of applications and this will enhance prospects for those unlucky enough to be in emergency situations,” he says.