Drones perfect for search and rescue tasks
I HAVE for the past few months been advocating the use of drones in our island and beyond. I feel that particularly our search and rescue facilities could utilise drones to great effect. It is so much easier to spot a missing person from 100ft in the air than from down on the ground or at sea level. The reaction to my efforts to have drones introduced has generally been one of, 'We understand that they are investigating this in the UK and we will wait and see what they have to say in due course.'
Why, oh why, does Guernsey have to wait for the UK? We are very capable of assessing drone usage for ourselves. Let us undertake the testing and report to the UK and not visa versa.
The Bailiwick punches well above its weight on many things such as sport, so why do we not grasp the nettle and introduce drones to search and rescue now? I gather that the Dorset and Somerset fire service have decided to use drones, so we have already missed out on being first, but I will happily settle for second place.
GERRY TATTERSALL,
Address withheld.
