Successful testing with dropping objects via drones

Police zones on the coast are already regularly practicing dropping objects. Dropping life jackets at beach lifeguards has also been tested.

“But drones also offer many advantages in the event of incidents and emergencies at sea,” says provincial councilor Kurt Himpe. “For example, radios, water bottles, thermal blankets, beacons… can be dropped at places where it is too dangerous to send rescue services.”

Gaps in the law?

But the use of drones is still limited by gaps in legislation. “Accepting predefined risk analyzes would be a great help, such as for fire assistance and road accident mapping. This can be perfectly recorded in advance and very applicable to all emergency services without everyone having to make a risk analysis individually, which is very time-consuming,” explains Governor Decaluwé.

“The limitation of flights to a maximum distance of 500 meters around a non-moving pilot is also a gap. With a view to the arrival of drones with greater autonomy, this should certainly be reviewed and not the distance, but the height should play a role.”