Photo for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

Dubai Civil Defence has received permission to use drones to combat high-rise fires in the emirate. According to state news agency Wam, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) regulation permits drones for backup and assistance. The drones will aid the Civil Defense in putting out flames in hard-to-reach areas such as high-rise buildings, enclosed spaces, and warehouses containing hazardous materials. The head of Dubai Civil Defence, Lt Gen Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi, said that “this will positively reflect on the tasks undertaken by the Civil Defence to protect lives and property, as it contributes to saving time, effort and speed in handling accidents of all kinds.” During the first quarter of 2022, the GCAA issued 180 operational approvals for drone systems. The agency also authorized 20,000 amateur drone user applications and 181 operators for commercial and government usage, including the operation of 870 drones. BKM/ Expat Media
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