FutureFlight
Beyond the Air Taxi: The Business Case for eVTOLs in Global Rescue and Disaster Relief
Experts are evaluating how eVTOL aircraft could make responses to natural disasters and other crises more effective.
Kitty Hawk Heaviside
Kitty Hawk Heaviside eVTOL aircraft was recently evaluated for missions such as emergency response as part of the U.S. Air Force's Agility Prime program. (Photo: Kitty Hawk)

Whether it be a wildfire, hurricane, earthquake, tsunami, or even a volcano, technology is playing an increasingly essential role in disaster relief efforts. To illustrate, just look at how wildfires are fought.

Traditionally, firefighters have used an array of ground-based systems supported in the air by manned rotorcraft and airplanes. However, many of these systems lack the capacity to cover the huge swaths of land affected by these fires. Furthermore, due to the nature of wildfires, aircraft often find themselves operating over long distances, at night, in severe weather, and in remote areas that lack proper infrastructure—all of which make these missions extremely dangerous.