The state of Oregon, in the U.S., is planning to introduce drones to its firefighting team to help combat wildfires.
According to a press release issued by the Oregon Department of Aviation, the U.S. state is studying the feasibility of using Yamaha’s Fazer Sar drone helicopter in wildfire combat.
The state and Yamaha have already signed a memorandum of understanding “to explore the potential use of Yamaha’s unmanned Fazer Sar helicopter for wildfire mitigation and suppression in the state of Oregon,” the release said.
“As wildfire seasons become more intense and unpredictable, the need for innovative, flexible, and scalable tools becomes increasingly urgent.”
“This partnership marks an important step in assessing how beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) can support rapid response operations to small and emerging wildfires, especially in remote or high-risk regions,” the statement added.
Yamaha’s Fazer Sar is a great alternative, as the unmanned drone helicopter is powered by a two-cylinder gasoline engine and carries a fuel tank that, with the optional larger tank, allows it to stay airborne for up to 6 hours.
The maximum altitude of the Fazer Sar is estimated at nearly 10,000 feet, while its cruising range is about 372 miles. Now that the memorandum has been signed, Oregon officials and fire department teams have begun testing to assess its viability for firefighting.
“This is a forward-looking collaboration to understand how aviation technology — especially unmanned systems — can enhance our wildfire response toolkit,” said Kenji Sugahara, Director of the Oregon Department of Aviation.
“While this MOU does not grant exclusivity or authorize operational deployment, it opens the door to collaborative testing, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory coordination.”
Photo and video: Yamaha. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
