A “VISIONARY research project “ that uses drones to help tackle fires could revolutionise how the emergency services work - although a “number of challenges” would need to be overcome first.

The Flying High project is a partnership between West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Bradford Council and innovation foundation Nesta. It would involve drones based at Bradford fire stations dispatched to the scene of serious incidents. They would then feed back images and information from the scene to firefighters, giving them the chance to assess the situation before they arrive.

Bradford was named as one of five areas that would become a “drone city” – which will test the technology and how it can be applied in a variety of different fields, earlier this year. This summer it would reveal that in the district the project would focus on improving emergency service responses.

On Friday members of the West Yorkshire Fire Authority will be given an update on the ambitious scheme.

They will be told that while the project has huge potential, there are a number of hurdles it would need to overcome, including laws that drone operators must keep their drones in their direct sight at all times while it is flying.

A report to the authority’s Community Safety Committee says: “It should be stressed that this proposal is highly conceptual at this stage, it is a visionary research project.

“Whilst, in theory, the technology exists to complete this project there are a number of challenges that would need to be overcome in order to make the project a reality. One of the most significant requirements would be a change in the Civil Aviation Authority regulations surrounding the use of drones. At the moment drones must be flown within line of sight of the operator. Clearly the proposal would require them to fly beyond this range. Work is underway nationally with the CAA to explore this.

“There are immediate benefits for the fire and rescue service linked to better use of emergency response resources, improved environmental outcomes and perhaps most importantly improved firefighter and public safety. It is also the case that there are concerns which will have to be addressed in terms of the public perception around such reconnaissance devices and the need for privacy and data security to name but a few.”

Members will also be told that the project is a more long term one, with the report saying: “This project is conceptual and will take a number of years to demonstrate any tangible changes to the means by which we provide our service.”