Remotely Piloted Aircraft used in operation in RS collides with the ground, reports the Air Force

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) reported that a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (ARP), used in operations in Rio Grande do Sul, collided with the ground in an area without inhabitants on Tuesday (7). Last Sunday (5), the aircraft flew over areas of Santa Maria and Quarta Colônia to identify isolated people who needed rescue after the heavy rains that hit the State.

​+ Join the Diário channel on WhatsApp and check out the main news of the day

According to the FAB statement, the equipment presented a technical problem. The location where the collision with the ground occurred was not known. See the full note:

​“A Remotely Piloted Aircraft (ARP), from the FAB, which is used in missions to support those affected by the floods in Rio Grande do Sul, presented a technical problem during its operation and collided with the ground, in an uninhabited region, this Tuesday Monday (05/07). The Air Force informs that the Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) will investigate the factors contributing to the aeronautical occurrence.”

Using ARP in RS​

Remotely piloted aircraft make it possible real-time and high-precision analyzes of exposed areas, assisting in mapping and modeling, in addition to allowing the measurement of the population at risk in the study area. The aircraft is used in missions to support public security agencies and this was the first time it will be used in a natural disaster situation. The model used by the Air Force was the RQ-900, large. Also called Hermes, the aircraft has a wingspan of 15 meters and can fly at altitudes of up to 9 thousand meters, covering a vast area. With high-definition sensors and laser markers, Hermes had the mission of sending coordinates of flood victims to helicopters H-60L Black Hawk to the rescue.

​