Berkeley Co. Rescue Squad considers using drones to assist with searches







MONCKS CORNER, S.C.—The Berkeley Co. Rescue Squad is looking into the possibility of using to drones to assist with future searches. 

Representatives with SkyView Aerial Solutions, a company out of Mount Pleasant that specializes in unmanned aerial solutions, met with rescue squad members on Thursday.

On the outside, drones look like toy planes but do way more than just fly around.  Becoming increasingly popular with law enforcement, the military and other rescue agencies, drones come equipped with a video camera which makes it possible to conduct aerial searches without the need of a pilot.

Several agencies in South Carolina already use drones to assist them on the job.  The Richland Co. Sheriff’s Office and Columbia Police Department first started using them in 2011 to help them with locating missing people and monitoring dangerous situations from a distance.

According to representatives with SkyView Aerial Solutions, they’ve experienced a huge interest in their drones from the global community including India, Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Thailand.

Depending on make and model, the cost of a drone can range anywhere from $200 to $1,500.

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