A wildfire’s thick black smoke blots out the sun, cloaking the area in a premature dusk. Glowing embers spiral up through the haze. A small camera- equipped aircraft skirts a wall of flames on a dangerous mission to record hot spots and track the fire’s progression.

That is, it would be dangerous if an actual pilot was on board. But this is an unmanned aircraft, capable of venturing into areas too remote or deadly to risk human life. The pilotless plane, also known as an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) or unmanned aerial vehicle, transmits collected sensor data to emergency response teams on the ground that use the information to strategically allocate fire fighting resources.

No longer solely for military use, UASs have increasing potential for civilian and commercial applications, particularly with regard to emergency response and relief efforts. They can be used for environmental research, law enforcement, border surveillance, search and rescue operations, damage assessment, and recovery efforts following natural disasters. Ideal for situations where it’s too dangerous or difficult to use manned aircraft, unmanned aircraft often cost less and can stay in the air longer — as long as four days without refueling.

“Resources are always at a premium in an emergency situation,” said retired Los Angeles firefighter David Badgett. “Sometimes it’s best to drop water with a manned helicopter. Other times it’s better to send in a UAS for observation. Unmanned aircraft give incident commanders more options, so they can select the most appropriate tool for any given mission.”

“When people hear about unmanned, remotely controlled planes, they tend to think of Predator drones in Afghanistan seeking out terrorist suspects,” said Alan Jaeger, business manager for the Navy’s Center for Asymmetric Warfare (CAW). “But there’s great potential for this technology right here in our own backyard, especially with respect to fighting fires. We’re working to determine how UASs can be used to save lives and prevent serious collateral damage during asymmetric events,” Jaeger said.

“Connecting the UAS community with emergency response professionals, in this case firefighters, provides a unique environment for evaluating the potential of these technologies. Unmanned systems have saved lives and improved operations in combat situations,” said Kyle Snyder, UAS operations director at Middle Tennessee State University’s Aerospace Department.

The FAA is working to define UAS safety standards, policies and procedures, and contends that there are valid reasons for proceeding with caution. Typically smaller unmanned aircraft have struggled with system failures, computer glitches and human error, as well as lack collision-warning systems or transponders. In addition, the small size of many UASs makes them difficult to see, and adequate detect, sense and avoid technology is still years away.

FAA spokeswoman Alison Duquette said the main concern about UAS operations in the national airspace is safety. “It is critical that aircraft do not endanger other users of the [national airspace] or compromise the safety of persons or property on the ground,” according to the FAA.

“The FAA places a temporary flight restriction on all manned aircraft whenever a large fire breaks out. The flight restriction establishes who can fly in the zone and under what guidelines,” Badgett said. “Piloted emergency aircraft could be flying in the area along with UASs, and that concerns the FAA. In some circumstances, there are no manned flights at night, and that’s been suggested as an optimal time to deploy unmanned aircraft.”

The FAA is working closely with the UAS community to define operational and certification requirements, and aims to publish a proposed rule this year.