CNVVF uses remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPASs) or drones in rescue operations to reduce risks to firefighters and lower operational costs compared to traditional aerial vehicles. Drones increase efficiency and effectiveness by providing different perspectives to optimize planning. CNVVF has been trialing and integrating drones since 2002 and now has a fleet of over 30 drones and 70 trained pilots stationed at 7 bases across Italy. Drones are deployed for incidents like earthquakes and bridge collapses to assess damage, map areas, and monitor rescue operations from above. CNVVF aims to further integrate drones and increase pilot training to have coverage across all of Italy to enhance emergency response capabilities.

1. Onofrio Lorusso
Air Rescue Coordination Office
Using Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)
in Rescue Operations
of Italian National Fire Corps (CNVVF)

2. CNVVF IN ITALIAN LAW
Italian National Fire Corps (CNVVF) is an Organization linked to
Ministry of the Internal Affairs, and is in charge to assure Public
Rescue, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, included Forest Fire,
over National Territory.
CNVVF is the essential part of Italian Civil Protection System
CNVVF assumes direction and coordination of technical rescue,
characterized by immediacy, professionality, expertise and
appropriate equipments
For this reason, CNVVF studies and experiences new technologies,
as drones

3. RPAS RULES
Italian Air Navigation Code (DLgs 151/2006)
CNVVF RPAS have status of “State Aircraft” and are operated according
to Special Rules issued and adopted by CNVVF
Regulation (EU) 1139/2018
…Member State shall ensure that activities (search and rescue,
firefighting activities…undertaken in the public interest….) are
carried out with due regard to the safety objectives of this
Regulation…..and that those aircraft are safely separated from other
aircraft
CNVVF Circular EM17/2017 (superseded Circular EM 14/2016)
How to issue flight permits and register RPAS in CNVVF Fleet Book
An Occurrence Reporting System has been established
Requirements to issue and to maintain CNVVF flight license
Procedures to deploy and manage RPAS

4. CNVVF RPAS
Why does CNVVF use RPAS?
To avoid or to reduce risk exposition of firefighters
Operative costs are lower than traditional aerial vehicles
To increase efficiency and effectiveness in rescue operations,
taking advantage of a «different» point of view in order to
optimize planning

5. INITIAL EXPERIENCES
2002: Rome, Trial with University of Rome – Robotics Department
2007: Rome, International Workshop on Safety, Security and Rescue Robotics
2009-13: L’Aquila, Earthquake (Post-Emergency inspections) and Trial in
Search and Rescue activities
2010-14: Venice, Trial in use of RPAS to support Firefighting Operations
(village monitoring during defusing bomb, inspections of bell tower, monitoring
and models of landslides). Manned helicopter Pilots involved.
2010-12: Salerno, Trial in Streaming
2012-13: Mirandola, Emilia Romagna Earthquake – NIFTi “Natural human-
robot cooperation in dynamic environments” European Project
2015-16: Various sites, Trial in SAR, USAR and CBRN scenario

6. Helicopters for
SAR Ops
n.21 AB412
n.4 (+1) A109
n.15 AB206
Airplanes
n.2 P180
n.19
CL415
Helicopters for
Forest Fire
n.12 AB412
n.4 S64F
Air Rescue
RPASs (drones)
CNVVF FLEET

7. INTEGRATION OF RPAS
C.O.N.
SOP Reg / Prov

8. CNVVF RPAS FLEET
SenseFly Ebee (5)
Parrot Bebop 2 (5)
DJI Inspire 1 e 2 (14)
DJI Mavic Pro (7)
VLOS or EVLOS Operations (also with equipments)
Minimum Crew Members: 2 Pilots
Radio contact on Aeronautical and CNVVF Freq.
Risk evaluation according to the scenario and the target
Coordination with ATS (Civil or Military) to use “common” airspace

9. Data extract from CNVVF RPAS Fleet and Pilots Logbook (update to 18.09.18)
EVENT Flight Hours Flights
CENTRAL ITALY Earthquake 2016 422:50 1683
RIGOPIANO and LANDSLIDES 2017 11:11 45
ISCHIA Earthquake 2017 16:39 95
GENOA Morandi Bridge Collapse 2018 69:05 280
MOLISE Earthquake 2018 29:48 75
CNVVF RPAS ACTIVITY
PERIOD Flight Hours Flights
from 24.08.16 1401:55 5704
Year 2017 334:11 1376
from 01.08.18
(training)
792:06
(334:53)
3190
(1318)

10. CNVVF RPAS AVAILABILITY
Pilots qualified: 70 Bases in charge: 7

11. CNVVF RPAS ACTIVATION
CNVVF’s
RPAS TEAM
Temporary
Air Rescue Base
Cittareale
First full scale deployment of CNVVF’s RPASs in National
Emergency – Central Italy Earthquake 2016

12. OPERATIONS WITH RPAS

13. OPERATIONS WITH RPAS

14. TRADR Project in Amatrice:
Long-Term Human-Robot
Teaming for Robot-Assisted
Disaster Response
SHARING RPAS EXPERIENCES
Collaboration with DIRECT
(Disaster Recovery Team)
of Turin University

15. GENOA DEPLOYMENT
14.08.18: Collapse 11.36

16. GENOA DEPLOYMENT

17. GENOA DEPLOYMENT
First RPAS flight: 14.22
(CNVVF helicopters also
involved in Rescue Ops)

18. GENOA DEPLOYMENT
To assure safety of CNVVF USAR Teams involved in
Rescue Operations

19. GENOA DEPLOYMENT
Overview Scenario and 2D/3D models to identify USAR
targets and to plan Rescue Operations
Daily streaming to CNVVF National Crisis Room

20. GENOA DEPLOYMENT
Evaluation of other parts of bridge

21. GENOA DEPLOYMENT
3D models “to freeze” scenario and parts for Law Authority

22. GENOA DEPLOYMENT
2D models to monitor the progress of rubble removal and
Polcevera riverbed

23. GENOA DEPLOYMENT
CNVVF is in charge of authorization and coordination
of aerial traffic over scenario

24. Education and training to achieve new skills and to have daily
availability of teams covering all national territory
WHAT’S GOING ON
Bases opened in 2018: 7
2018:
20 pilots still to train and 3 bases still to open
2019:
70 pilots to train and 8 new bases to open
to have at least one base in every Italian Region
Pilots trained in 2018: 40
AIP Italia ENR 5.1.2-23
LIR320

25. WHAT’S GOING ON
Look for new solutions for platforms and payloads to increase
response capability (e.g. CBRN)
Look for platforms with payloads of recent technology, matching
CNVVF requirements for rescue operations and European or
National Aviation Authority (Civil or Military) requirements
to fly safely without limitations on people overflown

26. FUTURE CHALLENGES
To experience integration in
Civil Airspace with BVLOS Operations
CNVVF is involved in trial operations with
Italian Aviation Authority (Civil – ENAC
and Military – A.M.) and Italian ATS (ENAV)
Registration of RPAS module in
Voluntary Pool of EERC, to integrate
RPAS capability in deployment of
European Civil Protection
Mechanism Teams
(eg. USAR M/H)

27. CONCLUSIONS
Use of RPAS will increase rapidly in Organizations involved in
Rescue Operations (e.g. small UAV in every firefighter truck,
fleet of UAVs collaborating in collect data and information,
BVLOS Operations, etc.)
“light” procedures to segregate “common” airspace when
Rescue Operations happened (not only big emergencies)
Dedicated platforms (reliable and with endurance) and
integrated “plug and play” payloads (to enlarge response
capability, as CBRN) for Organizations involved in Rescue Ops
Automation and “intelligence” to separate UAV from manned
aerial traffic, and integration of post-processing analysis

28. Thank you for
your attention
dc.emergenza@vigilfuoco.it
em.soccorsoaereo@vigilfuoco.it
onofrio.lorusso@vigilfuoco.it
Using RPASs
in Rescue Operations of CNVVF