Drone Support for Search and Rescue Teams

If someone is missing or in danger right now, call 911 first.

Drones have become a real tool in searches for missing people, but searches are run by law enforcement and organized search and rescue teams for good reasons. They coordinate ground teams, dogs, helicopters and volunteers, and an unplanned drone in the middle of that can do harm. When a helicopter is working a search, an unauthorized drone can force it to land, and the FAA may post a temporary flight restriction over the area.

How we help

• Only when asked. We don't self-deploy to searches. A pilot flies only at the request of, and under the direction of, the sheriff, incident commander or organized SAR team in charge.
• Connecting agencies with pilots. Agencies and SAR teams anywhere in the US can use the booking form or call to be connected with qualified local pilots, including thermal-equipped pilots, for planning, training and call lists.
• The agency decides. Families can reach out too, but the agency in charge decides who flies and when.

What we don't claim

A drone does not find people on its own. Visual searches from the air work best in open country; forests, tall crops and darkness limit what a regular camera can see. Thermal cameras help in many searches, especially at night and under light cover, but they need specialized equipment and trained operators. We connect agencies with thermal-equipped pilots; the results still depend on terrain, weather and timing, and no pilot can guarantee a find.

Other searches on private land

Landowners sometimes need help finding loose livestock, a lost dog on an acreage, or equipment and debris scattered across fields after a storm. With the owner's permission and normal Part 107 rules, these are flights we can help with. If a person may be in danger, it's a 911 call, not a booking.

For agencies

Agencies that run their own drone programs often operate under their own FAA authorizations. Volunteer pilots work within whatever structure the agency sets, including staging, radio use and reporting. We'd rather train with your team before a search than show up during one.

Agencies and SAR teams can reach us through the Book a Flight form; choose Search & Rescue Support.

Book a Flight

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