Drone will add capacity to Search and Rescue

Cochrane Search and Rescue (CSAR) has added another valuable tool to its arsenal, thanks to TC Energy.

Through its Build Strong program, designed to aid nonprofit organizations, the corporation made an in-kind donation of a drone.

"We're really excited to support them because it is something that we actually operated in the past and it now has a new home with Search and Rescue," says Lisa Deck, TC Energy Community Liaison.

It also ties in with the corporation's top priority of safety.

"At TC Energy, we work with organizations that have any sort of function related to safety in the community. It aligns with our Build Strong program."

CSAR president Andy Potton says the idea of TC Energy providing a drone was a last-minute addition to an application.

"I prepared a big long list of things that we needed and weirdly, at the end of it, I added a drone, if you happen to have one available have one available," says Potton. "I was doing it jokingly and then, yeah, they donated the drone."

While in northern Alberta to assist with wildfire operations, they saw first-hand how the drones were a valuable tool for other Search and Rescue teams. 

He says there are multiple ways it can help conduct life-saving searches. One of those key pieces is providing a birds-eye view of the critical 300-metre area from the last known location of the person sought.

 "The drone will enable us to be able to really start monitoring that 300 metres while our resources start to arrive."

While in the bush, they typically encounter swamps and crevices, areas that aren't easily accessible.

"They can radio in the coordinates and the drone can then go out and get into those areas and do a real thorough search. Then in time, we'll get the FLIR for it, so we can then see at nighttime, and that will be super valuable, particularly in the winter if we've got missing people out in the bush or just missing people anywhere really."

Potton says they will be finalizing their drone handbook and securing insurance before putting the drone into operation.

CSAR members Mark Smith and Rob Wambold are certified drone operators. Both are advanced pilots who have been flying drones for three or four years.

CSAR drone operators Rob Wambold and Mark Smith display the drone donated by TC Energy.

"We're just super happy to get to do some flying for search and rescue and do it for a good community cause," says Smith. "It's important."

"The awesome donation from TC Energy is definitely going to open a lot of doors for us. With the number of members that we have, we're able to devote a lot of hours when search requests come in, but adding the drone aspect to it is going be a helpful resource too." 

"It's nice," says Wambold, "because we were talking about using personal drones until we get one for the organization, and this donation makes sure we always have one available."

Provided was DJI Phantom IV Pro with a case that includes multiple batteries. While TC Energy declined to say the value of the donation, these drones retail for over $4,000 on Amazon and the additional batteries are several hundred dollars.

Both agree it's a robust drone, well suited for searches.

"We're also getting additional batteries as well. If it's like a long protracted search that we're conducting, it's gonna give us that kind of edge to be able to just run a little bit longer," says Smith. "When we're covering a large area, it's definitely going to be very helpful in that capacity."

They'll also be able to live stream searches to the control centre to help coordinate searches.

Wambold says he owns a similar drone.

"I've got lots of experience flying this model of drone, so it's nice. It's not something we're going to have to learn new controls and have a long learning curve. So it's going to be a nice out-of-the-box flying experience."

The two will be helping to train more operators for CSAR.

Potton says fundraising is ongoing and donations like this are essential to the volunteer-based organization. 

"In case anybody is interested in donating, we are looking for a one-ton truck to pull our ATV trailer because our three-quarter-ton is struggling with it.

"We're always looking for sponsorships from companies and corporations. It's hugely important because everything we get through a charitable grant or a donation means that we don't have to pay for it. And when I say we don't have to pay for it, that is essentially our members going out and having to fundraise."  

CSAR currently has 72 members.

You can learn more about CSAR here.