A new plan for Peninsula firefighters' search and rescue drones and U.S. Coast Guard helicopters to share the skies over the San Francisco Bay could make the difference between a "live rescue and a tragic recovery," Menlo Park Fire Protection District's chief said.
Drones are frequently used in emergencies and natural disasters but conflicts emerged between public and private drone operators and other emergency aircraft, such as those used in wildland firefighting, during the wildfire seasons of 2017 and 2018.
In some cases, air tankers and helicopters were unable to drop water or fire retardant due to the threat of collision with smaller, unmanned systems in the area.
Over the Bay, however, the new agreement spells out specific altitudes of operation for drones and aircraft to improve operator safety.