Drone Operations
Drones are useful on fires — overhead perimeter, hotspot detection, property survey. But drones and ground crews share airspace they don't always see. Mapping drone ops on the same operation everyone else is on prevents conflicts.
The Pins Drone Pilots Drop
Launch Point
Before any flight, drop a 📡 Drone Ops → Launch Point pin where the drone is taking off from. Title it with the drone call sign (e.g., "SKY-1 Launch"). Include in notes: pilot name, aircraft type, planned mission.
This tells ground crews a drone is active and where it's coming from. More importantly, it tells other drone pilots so they don't launch at the same spot.
No-Fly Zones
Mark any airspace that's off-limits:
- Nearby airports (5-mile radius by default — check current TFR rules)
- Helicopter LZs already in use
- Adjacent TFRs stood up by other agencies
- Known powerline easements for manned aircraft
Use ⚠ Hazard → No-Fly Zone. In notes, include altitude restriction if any and effective times.
Flight Paths (Optional)
For scripted missions (orbit a perimeter, grid a search area), dropping waypoint pins along the planned path gives ground crews a visual of where the drone will be. Use 📡 Drone Ops → Waypoint for each point.
Coordination With Ground
Before Launch
Radio the ground branch: "Drone SKY-1 launching from [launch point], altitude 300 AGL, orbiting Division B, estimated 15 minute flight." The launch point is already on the map — ground crews can see it without you having to describe it.
During Flight
Drone pilot should periodically drop live pins as they find things — hotspots the ground can't see, broken lines beyond the perimeter, new spot fires. Use 🔥 Fire Related → Spot Fire (Aerial) so ground knows the detection came from the air.
After Flight
Update the Launch Point pin with "Mission complete" and the end time. If you're doing multiple flights, drop a new pin for each one so the history is clear.
If manned air attack is operating on the same incident, drones stop. Full stop. No exceptions. A drone in the same airspace as a helicopter tanker is a crash waiting to happen. When air attack shows up, ground the drones and add a ⚠ Hazard pin covering the affected airspace until air ops is done.
Drone Reference & Tutorials
For DJI drone-specific guidance (Avata 360, Mavic 3E, Matrice), see the Sky Scout field reference separately. This guide is about coordinating drones in FieldOps, not flying them.
You're Done
That's the five-step wildland fire workflow. You've got IC structure mapped, property owners identified, mutual aid plugged in, and drones integrated. Every piece of situational awareness is on one map, updating live for everyone who needs to see it.
What's Next
- During the op: Update pins as conditions change. Mark areas secured. Drop hazard pins for new threats.
- Demob: Rotate the Viewer PIN. Archive the operation when fire is contained.
- Post-incident: Export the operation data for after-action review. Follow Me tracks become part of the record.