With the expanding number of drones that conquer the Polish sky, the importance of training among their operators is besides increasing, especially as fire brigades, property and facilities safety services, police and military are increasingly reaching for them. There is no uncertainty that a fresh profession has been created in the last fewer years, which will request tens of thousands of well-trained drone pilots/operators of various uses. From the fun and amusement stage, we decision on to their commercial use, where life and safety can be at stake. Drones can already effectively support the protection of railway terminals and critical infrastructure.

Let's start at the beginning: drones and their operations arrive from week to week. The war in Ukraine made us look at them completely differently. They became both the first and last lines of defense. They aid evacuate wounded, defend vehicles, but erstwhile essential to keep the defensive line, they besides execute precise blows. In Poland today, no 1 is amazed by the drones supporting fire brigades, city services or patrolling from a safe tallness our roads and borders, or railway and road junctions.

According to the latest data of the civilian Aviation Authority, the number of pilots^[1] authorised to operate with unmanned aircraft (BSP) is presently 239 825 in Poland with a number of operators^[2] up to 322,046. The National Drone Information strategy includes 36 488 drones (these are BSPs reported by users, it is not mandatory to registry BSP).

National Centre for the Coordination of Emergency Commands of the State Fire Service wants to extend the usage of unmanned aircraft (BSP) in rescue operations. In turn, the Territorial Defence Army wants to rapidly build its aviation component, which will be based on the ability to usage unmanned aircraft, including primarily reconnaissance and impact drones. Apart from the Warmate drones, they will be micro-class machines, and in the future besides nano, which weigh little than 100 grams. Let us remind that as of 1 January 2025 drone troops already function as a real part of the Polish Army. Unmanned vessels and their production will gain a fresh impetus with the signing of the Polish-Japanese cooperation agreement on the improvement of unmanned aircraft platforms this spring.

Drones in PLK Service

Drones accepted

– Companies and institutions realize better how integrate drones with regular operations. The number of licensed operators is expanding and the procedures for reporting flights are simpler than before, especially thanks to the applications and fresh air traffic management systems," emphasised Mateusz Podlewski, Vice president of the Management Board of REAKTO.

The issue of coordination of drone operations in airspace, in peculiar in cities and around airports, remains a challenge.

– BVLOS flights (outside of sight) are 1 of the key elements of the full integration of drones into larger transport systems, but require more advanced management and regulatory acceptance systems. The war in Ukraine has shown that this is possible, and present a joint “row of drones” is able to defend the lives of soldiers and even aid the evacuation of wounded. This experience can undoubtedly be utilized in various another rescue actions, including floods or another natural disasters. Only that requires quite a few skill and experience that we can't find in any manual. It is not adequate to read about it, it is essential to learn it – says president Mateusz Podlewski.

Needs and opportunities

Fire department, police, border guards, Territorial Defence Army and Railway Protection Service – pilots and operators are needed in each of these services, and REAKTO is providing specialist training tailored to the requirements and expectations of each service.

– This is not a game. Requirements are increasing very rapidly in line with technological developments. We are prepared to conduct advanced training with FPV drones, offering the chance to view the planet from the position of the drone. specified training requires more training hours and is designed for operators who request advanced skills, both in military, rescue and recreational contexts. Our main assets are the background, experience and technology – Mateusz Podlewski definitely stated.

Let's start with the fire department.

Training for firefighters includes not only standard drone operations skills, but besides rescue-specific scenarios specified as monitoring flood hazard areas and utilizing drones to observe and measure the scale of threats. For fire detection, training shall include the usage of drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras to monitor and find fire sources. In the case of search for missing persons, training includes search operations utilizing BSP in hard areas specified as forests, mountains or extended water areas.

– Let's not forget that drones can be utilized to measure harm after disasters, which helps the services in the fast consequence and coordination of rescue operations – reminds the vice president and adds: – As 1 of the fewer entities we conduct training on quadcopter on STS-02, due to the fact that our quad is allowed for usage and training. No another quadcopter can be utilized for specified training," explains Mateusz Podlewski.