UAV/RPAS/Drones

Alan Harper made this Freedom of Information request to Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

The request was successful.

Dear Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service,

Please could you provide the following information:-

Number of officers qualified to control RPAS (Remote piloted aircraft systems)?
Number of RPAS/UAV's (or drones) owned by LFRS including make and model of each UAV?
Timescales for deploying such equipment (e.g. 24 hour, 0900-1700 etc)?
Do LFRS own and operate RPAS thermal imaing cameras: Are any employees of LFRS qualified thermal imaging specialists for use with RPAS?
Do LFRS employ any persons with RPAS 3d imaging experience or qualifications?

Yours faithfully,

Alan Harper

DP&FOI, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service

Dear Sir 
 
Thank you for your request which was received on 03 April 2017, requesting
the following information:
 
Number of officers qualified to control RPAS (Remote piloted aircraft
systems)?
Number of RPAS/UAV's (or drones) owned by LFRS including make and model of
each UAV?
Timescales for deploying such equipment (e.g. 24 hour, 0900-1700 etc.)
Do LFRS own and operate RPAS thermal imaging cameras:  Are any employees
of LFRS qualified thermal imaging specialists for use with RPAS?
Do LFRS employ any persons with RPAS 3d imaging experience or
qualifications?
 
Your request is being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and will be answered as soon as possible and at the
latest within 20 working days, (5 May 2017).
 
In the unlikely event that we are not able to respond within 20 working
days we will write to you to explain why and provide an anticipated
completion date.
 
In line with guidance published by the Information Commissioner’s Office,
LFRS may make a charge for the provision of information – for example in
order to cover the costs of postage (in line with the relevant postal
charges) or charges for printing and copying (which will reflect
photocopying charges levied by public libraries).
 
You will be informed if a fee is to be applied before information is to be
provided.
 
If you have any queries about this request do not hesitate to contact the
Incident Information Officer quoting the reference number given in the
subject line of this acknowledgement.
 
Regards

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DP&FOI, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service

Dear Sir
 
Freedom of Information Request
 
I am writing further to your email of 3 April 2017 where you requested the
following information:
 
Number of officers qualified to control RPAS (Remote piloted aircraft
systems)?
Number of RPAS/UAV's (or drones) owned by LFRS including make and model of
each UAV?
Timescales for deploying such equipment (e.g. 24 hour, 0900-1700 etc)?
Do LFRS own and operate RPAS thermal imaging cameras:  Are any employees
of LFRS qualified thermal imaging specialists for use with RPAS?
Do LFRS employ any persons with RPAS 3d imaging experience or
qualifications?
 
Please find our decision below:
 
Number of officers qualified to control RPAS (Remote piloted aircraft
systems)?
Currently 7 pilots qualified to RPQ status
 
Number of RPAS/UAV's (or drones) owned by LFRS including make and model of
each UAV?
LFRS operates one Drone which is a Aeryon Skyranger
 
Timescales for deploying such equipment (e.g. 24 hour, 0900-1700 etc)?
We operate 24/7.
 
Do LFRS own and operate RPAS thermal imaging cameras:  Are any employees
of LFRS qualified thermal imaging specialists for use with RPAS?
There is a FLIR payload on one camera, and although we know how to use it
and interpret the imagery, we are not specialists.
 
Do LFRS employ any persons with RPAS 3d imaging experience or
qualifications?
There is the facility to create 3D imagery, but LFRS does not employ
anyone specifically to do this.
 
If you are unhappy with the information you have received in relation to
your request and wish to make an appeal or request a review of our
decision, you should write to the Director of Strategy and Planning at the
address shown below or by e-mail.
 
The Director of Strategy and Planning Delivery
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
Fire Service HQ
Garstang Road
Fulwood
Preston
PR2 3LH
 
Appeals or reviews should be made within 40 working days of our response
to your request being issued.  Any appeals or requests for review received
outside of the 40 working days will be refused.  Please note this is in
line with the Information Commissioner’s own working practices.
If you are not content with the outcome of your appeal or review, you may
apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally,
the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints
procedure provided by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.
 
The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
 
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Telephone: 08456 30 60 60 or 01625 54 57 45
[1]www.ico.gov.uk
 
Should you have any queries with regards to this email or require any
additional information, please contact me on the details listed below 
 
Yours faithfully
 
Robert Shaw - Incident Information Officer
Corporate Programme and Intelligence
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service
Email: [2]dp&[email address]
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Visit our website: [3]www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk
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Twitter: [5]@LancashireFRS

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