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News Response :: Canned drones a 'must have' for bushfire surveillance

Well, it seems someone did beat me to my idea of using UAV's in firefighting efforts. They would be invaluable on the recon side of things, able to fly into conditions with extremely limited visibility and much more varied weather than a standard firespotter. They could also be used as mobile communications repeaters, far enhancing fireground communications in Victoria's often hilly and difficult terrain.

However, it should be pointed out that the drones that this article is talking about are the global hawk drones such as those used by the US Military in Recon and Search and Destroy missions. They would be given to the Military and then they could lend them to the CFA while still operating them should they see fit. It's a shame to see this article suggest that the drones would have been used during Black Saturday. I beleive that it would take the military several hours just to give the CFA permission to use one of their drones on a mission and then the use of the drone would be limited and via the Defence Forces.

Which is all well and good but the amount of red tape that you would have to pass through to get one of these in the air would be extremely high. It would be much more usefull if the CFA was able to obtain a couple of short range UAV's for constant Recon of a fire and to monitor it in real time.

Also in response to one of the last paragraphs in the article

Senator Johnston says Australia needs the drones because of their flexibility and capability, particularly with respect to bushfire monitoring.

"I actually think it would have gone on to have been able to provide evidence as to arson," he said.

Senator Johnston is the Shadow Minister for Defense and this is a poor attempt at using the fires during Black Saturday to their advantage. I find it VERY unlikely that the Drones would have done anything to assist in the investigation of arson. For one thing, the drones would not actually be in the air when the fires started but would assist after the start of the fire. Probably several hours if they where controlled by the defence forces, after all it took them several days to even talk about getting involved with the fire effort in the past few weeks. So, no, Senator Johnston, this is one voter who's seen straight through your crap to a thinly veiled attempt at using the fires as a platform.

After all, I also see the opposition whinging about spending at such a time, whats so damn important about Australia having Global Hawks...

Article Source - ABC Online - http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/03/2506362.htm?section=justin