CAB Costruzioni Aeronautiche Bertola, is the exclusive supplier of the drone structure – structural parts and assembly.
The Italian Red Cross benefits from the work carried out by the Provincial Committee of Bologna, which has been experimenting on remotely piloted aircraft for three years and has equipped itself with “Hero”, a new helicopter drone with exceptional features. To understand better, let us take a step back: in July of last year, the CRI (Italian Red Cross) of Bologna had succeeded in launching the ENAC (Italian Civil Aviation Authority) experimentation with a DJI Phantom 2 Vision + quadcopter, suitably modified to comply with the regulations, at the mouth of the Reno river. The news got a lot of attention because, very few months from the entry into force of the legislation, “Hero” had become the first APR based on the “DJI Phantom 2 Vision+” to enter ENAC lists.
After a long period of experimentation including an exercise at Bologna airport and several other training sessions for pilots in specially made inflatable arenas, the CRI, obtained the ENAC’s authorization to use the drone for institutional purposes in specialized missions in mixed scenarios. It is the project called SAPR (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System), which consists in the use of drones in emergency activities that was presented at one of the cycle “Rome Drone Conferences” as well as at the Italian TV show “I Fatti Vostri” by the Red Cross.
Maurizio Menarini, president of the Provincial Committee of the Bologna Red Cross, explained to Giancarlo Magalli (the conductor of the show) that this new vehicle is capable of transporting up to 50 kg of payload within a radius of 100 km; therefore, it is very suitable for transporting medicines and medical supplies. It will be used abroad in international CRI missions during emergencies, to monitor coasts and refugee camps as it can arrive quickly in disaster areas. It is a remotely piloted helicopter drone that IDS has created in collaboration with AgustaWestland and that can weigh up to 150 kg at take-off. Equipped with an autopilot, it is able to carry out autonomous missions with important payloads such as LIDAR sensors, SAR, Transponders for AIS/ADS-B communications and much more, such as the important humanitarian payloads of the CRI. Congratulations go to the Italian Red Cross that proves to be one-step ahead in the matter of drones applied to search, rescue and civil protection.
