Wexford Civil Defence has expanded its searching capability with the addition of a drone or (SUA Small Unmanned Aircraft). The drones’ main function will be to help with searches for missing persons. We currently have two Volunteers trained as pilot / operators. The drone carries a camera and relays the information back to the ground operators. All screens display the flight information for the craft which includes altitude, vertical and horizontal velocity, distance and direction from the operator, number of GPS satellites visible, mode of operation and also the battery voltage level. All the flight data is superimposed on the video imagery coming from the camera, mounted on the craft.

All operators of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems must be licensed by the Irish Aviation Authority. This license consists of two parts. One is a Permission to Operate a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System and the second is an Aerial Work Permission.  In order to gain the necessary permissions, potential operators must first complete an Aeronautical Ground School Course followed by a flight test conducted by an Approved Testerr from the Irish Aviation Authority.