First responders undergo drone training

About 20 first responders from the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Department of Public Safety, Department of Corrections, CNMI Customs/Biosecurity, Airport Rescue and Firefighting, and CNMI Homeland Security & Emergency Management participated in the first drone training course on Saipan.

The first day of training was done yesterday at the Northern Marianas Technical Institute campus in Lower Base, It will be held until June 26, from 8am to 4pm.

Along with the first responders in the course were University of Guam students Lucio Aldan and Angel Roligat, and Guam National Guardsman Ryder Alvarez.

The training was conducted by Bella Wings Aviation president and co-founder Charlie Hermosa. With Hermosa in the training were BWA co-founder Pearla Cordero, coordinator Natalia Faculo, and Stephen Librando, BWA’s director of Virtual Inspection and Construction Engineering.

Hermosa said the drone training is intended to showcase the capability and possibilities of drone technology in rescuing and community aid/assistance. There were also drones of all sizes that were on display.

Hermosa said the drones are part of their demonstration, but at this point no agencies will purchase them yet, although they will be giving recommendations based on their department’s mission.

First responders in the CNMI participate in the drone training course, led by Bella Wings Aviation co-founder Charlie Hermosa, standing in front, fourth from left. The first day of training was done yesterday at the Northern Marianas Technical Institute campus in Lower Base, until June 26, from 8am to 4pm. (LEIGH GASES)

The program came about after DFEMS officials expressed an interest in BWA’s drones. With all the different departments’ many needs, such as to help those who are drowning, search and rescue, fire detection, infrared, and so on, “it made sense for them to explore this avenue,” said Hermosa.

“The program is dedicated to balance out the regulations of flying drones properly and the tactical training that goes with it. So it’s not just about getting their regulations and license in place, but it’s also getting the time to be able to fly these drones. There’s a lot of personnel in the class that are interested in learning how to fly these drones,” he said.

DFEMS public information officer Robert Mojica said, “I think the program and idea for drone capabilities on the island would be an amazing asset to DFEMS and other agencies.”

“Search and rescue missions would be cut in half with better aerial videos done in real-time. If we had a search and rescue mission at night and the drone has thermal imaging and night vision, we could use it to better search the area of the last known location of an individual or group of people,” said Mojica. “When it’s dry season and the fires in the mountains of other remote areas are hard to get to, we could use drones to find access points.”

BWA is a Guam-based unmanned aerial vehicle company focused on providing virtual inspection in construction engineering, package delivery, light show, video production, search and rescue, manufacturing and training.