Episode 015: Using Drones in Emergency Situations in the UK with Lee Newman and Simon Stretch
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Charles Werner, your host, welcomes you to a new edition of the DRONE RESPONDERS podcast series. In today\\u2019s episode, he is accompanied by Lee Newman and Simon Stretch who share their experience using drones for good at the London Fire Brigade.
Lee Newman is a Station Officer in the London Fire Brigade and has served 22 years in an operational role. Lee is currently based at the brigade headquarters working in the Operational Assurance and Policy Team. Lee became project manager for the drone trials in 2017 after seeing drone technology being used at Grenfell by the Kent Fire Brigade. He assumed the role of Drone Project Lead for the London Fire Brigade and is now responsible for its growth and expansion. Lee has used the LFB drones on hundreds of occasions to survey fire incidents alongside showcasing the technology and its capability across the London Fire brigade. Lee is also looking into how 4D mapping of buildings and AR and VR can be used to train new firefighters.
Simon Stretch has been a serving firefighter for the past 20 years. Simon is also a CAA qualified drone pilot, currently based at the London Fire Brigades HQ in South London. Simon co-leads the newly established drone team and has been integral in mobilizing and establishing drone operators with the London Fire Brigade. Simon\\u2019s passion for drones started out when he was a young boy and a family business sparked his interest in helicopters. He obtained his own drone in 2010 and has since helped the LFB establish their governance and expand their drone fleet across the London Fire Brigade.
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Key Takeaways:
[1:13] Lee shares how he started into drones.
[2:10] Simon Stretch talks about how he became involved with drones.
[2:44] Simon shares how drones intervened in a terrible fire situation.
[5:08] How was the reception of drones at the London Fire Brigade?
[7:52] What are regulations like in the UK in regards to flying a drone in emergency situations?
[9:03] What is the Emergency Service Exemption about in the UK?
[10:40] Simon and Lee talk about the type of aircraft they are currently using.
[13:01] Simon and Lee talk about the drones they use most frequently.
[15:30] Simon and Lee share about the initial challenges they encountered while starting the program.
[18:09] Simon and Lee talk about specific incidents where drones made a difference with their intervention.
[22:40] Using drones for HAZMAT incidents in the UK.
[24:38] Simon and Lee talk about indoor flights.
[26:26] What are the potential benefits of using artificial intelligence?
[29:08] Swarm technology in the UK.
[29:51] Simon and Lee talk about the situation in regards to drones as first responders in the UK.
[31:40] COVID 19 has opened the eyes of the general public about the benefits of using drones.
[33:05] Simon and Lee share the projections for the immediate future for drones in the UK.
[35:37] The benefits of 3D mapping.
[36:56] LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors and the benefits for mapping.
[38:15] Lees and Simon talk to other departments that are not yet using drones in their programs.
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Mentioned in this episode:
Airborne International Response Team
Presented by AiRXOS, part of GE Aviation with additional support from FIRSTiZ and Pix4D
AIRT is the leading 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supporting Drones For Good and Public Safety UAS
Become a member of Drone Responders for free.
AIRT and DRONERESPONDERS 2020 Drones in Public Safety Survey
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