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Firefighting mission goes unmanned

22nd January 2015 - 16:33 GMT | by Tony Skinner in London

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The US Department of the Interior (DOI) is about to get into the optionally piloted helicopter game, and is planning a demonstration of potential candidates in May.

The DOI’s Office of Aviation Services (OAS) plans to carry out a series of flight tests in Boise, Idaho with heavy lift helicopters able to be operated in both a manned and unmanned configuration, according to a solicitation released on 21 May.

In particular, the OAS is interested in how suitable such aircraft are for missions including fire suppression at night and during low visibility conditions as well as cargo delivery.

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Tony Skinner

Tony Skinner is Shephard Media's Creative Director, overseeing the strategic direction, content development and project …

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