Today, a number of drone pilots from across the Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation were invited to visit the National Police Air Service (NPAS) base at East Midlands Airport.
NPAS, formed in 2012 to provide a nationally coordinated police air support service across England and Wales, plays a critical role in searching for missing people and supporting emergency incidents from the air.
The East Midlands base operates Vulcanair P68R fixed-wing aircraft, which provide extended range and endurance for search operations across the region.
During the visit, teams discussed how to safely and effectively operate alongside each other, including deconfliction procedures as both NPAS and mountain rescue teams are increasingly deployed to the same incidents. There was also a valuable opportunity to explore search techniques and how different aerial assets — from fixed-wing aircraft to drones — can work together to improve the chances of locating missing people. The visit provided a great opportunity to strengthen relationships and enhance coordination between services, ultimately improving outcomes during search and rescue operations.
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