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Revolutionary drones: Munich's fire department starts a unique pilot project!
From December 3, 2025, the Munich fire department will be testing an automated drone system to improve situational awareness during operations.
Revolutionary drones: Munich's fire department starts a unique pilot project!
A lot is happening in the world of fire service technology in Munich. From then onDecember 3, 2025The Munich fire department started an exciting pilot project with an automated drone system. This state-of-the-art system is developed in close collaboration with the company Skyflow implemented and should be in onesix-month test phaseprovide valuable insights into the possible applications and the technology potential. The project is unique on this scale within the German fire service and could revolutionize the way emergencies are responded to.
What exactly is behind this drone pilot project? The little helpers, which are around 40 by 40 centimeters in size and decorated in fire department colors, are intended to provide high-resolution situation reports in real time during operations. This enables early reconnaissance and precise operational planning, even before the first fire brigade arrives at the scene. “Improving the situation picture through drones is crucial,” emphasizes Christian Schnepf, head of the “Operations Information and Communication Technology” department of the Munich fire department.
How are the drones used?
If there is a fire or a traffic accident occurs, the drones have the task of recording the smoke development within a few minutes, documenting the extent of the event and identifying possible danger spots. The precise information they provide enables faster action and well-founded planning for the emergency services.
Another highlight are the two docking stations that were set up at fire station 4 in Schwabing and fire station 5 in Ramersdorf. These supply points make it possible to quickly deploy the drones for missions. In addition, the airspace for drone flights is coordinated with the operators of rescue and police helicopters to ensure safe implementation.
Security and data protection in focus
The use of these drones is subject to strict national and European regulations. Safety is a central concern: technical and organizational protective measures are implemented to ensure that the drones are not used in restricted airspace and that their functions are reliable. The technical options include thermal imaging and HD cameras, GPS-supported flight guidance and systems for automatic return and emergency shutdown.
The collection and processing of image and video data is carried out in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), so access to such data is only reserved for authorized persons. The pilot project also does not provide for comprehensive or permanent monitoring - the deployment is event-related and only carried out in emergencies.
Overall, expectations for this innovative project are high. Once the testing phase has been completed, a comprehensive evaluation of the data and experiences collected will take place, which could potentially lead to the expansion of a third drone location in the Munich district. That would be a step in the right direction to be able to react even faster and more efficiently in an emergency!