July 25, 2022 — Phoenix, A.Z.
PHOENIX — July, 25, 2022 — The Phoenix Fire Department announced it has selected drones made by Skydio, the leading U.S. drone manufacturer and world leader in autonomous flight, as the platform of choice for its newly-launched UAS program, designed to enhance firefighter safety and improve emergency response support for the Phoenix community.
As a growing number of public safety agencies evaluate the use of drones to help improve safety for first responders and their communities, Skydio 2+ and Skydio X2 drones, powered by groundbreaking autonomous flight software Skydio Autonomy, continue to garner interest for their unparalleled ability to help inexperienced pilots fly safely and access real-time data first responders need to successfully and safely complete their missions.
The Phoenix Fire Department’s UAS program is the beginning of a phased approach by the City of Phoenix to integrate drones into the city’s daily workflows. The Fire Department has certified nine FAA Part 107 pilots and purchased three Skydio X2 drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras. The systems will be utilized primarily when fighting structure or brush fires, as well as drone search and rescue.
“The autonomous flight capabilities of the Skydio drones will help our teams gain situational awareness from an aerial view, while being equipped with advanced safety features that protect both our community and firefighters, and enable our new pilots to fly confidently,” said Phoenix Fire Chief Mike Duran.
As of July 15th, 2022, the Phoenix Fire Department's UAS team has conducted a total of 94 flights with a total of 14.4 hours in the air. Of those flights, the team has responded to a total of 12 incidents - including 1st Alarm Fires, brush fires, and mountain rescues. (Source: https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/fire/2416)
If you're interested in learning more about Phoenix FD's new UAS team, follow the link below to register for an upcoming webinar hosted by CUAV on August 16th, 2022 at 1 pm ET. The webinar will feature Skydio's Cole Martin and Fritz Reber, along with Phoenix FD UAS Coordinator, Brian Geranen.
