The Oregon Department of Aviation (ODAV) and Yamaha Motor have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the potential use of the Japanese company’s Fazer SAR uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) for wildfire mitigation and suppression. Oregon experiences a number of wildfires during the hot, dry summer season, and so far this year, the state has had 1,649 fires and 194,949 acres burned.
“As wildfire seasons grow more intense and unpredictable, the need for innovative, flexible, and scalable tools becomes increasingly urgent,” according to ODAV. Evaluation of the Fazer SAR UAS will include testing beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations to help with rapid response for small and emerging wildfires in remote and high-risk areas. The agreement does not commit either party to a purchase or deployment of Yamaha’s UAS.
The Fazer SAR can carry up to 154 pounds of payload and fly 108 nm or 120 minutes, and with optional fuel tanks for six hours. The helicopter’s four-stroke piston engine burns unleaded auto gasoline. The overall length of the rotorcraft is 16.1 feet.
To evaluate the benefits of using the Fazer SAR, ODAV and Yamaha will consider “operational feasibility, regulatory pathways with the FAA, payload integration, and coordination with emergency response partners.” There could also be demonstration activities or pilot programs after the initial assessments.