Located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is one of the world’s most extravagant cities. As the Middle East’s global business hub, Dubai draws in investors, tourists, and businessmen from all over the globe.
You might recall the Jetman Dubai duo who recently flew alongside an Emirates A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft. The aerial stunt took place at 4,000 feet in two holding patterns over a group of man-made islands at the edge of the city.
Dubai is now looking to use jetpacks for a more practical purpose, such as fighting fires. On November 9 at the Dubai Air Show, Martin Aircraft and Dubai Civil Defense (DCD) signed an agreement for the future delivery of manned and unmanned jetpacks to the DCD, in addition to a series a flight simulators and training for civil defense and fire service personnel.
“The vision of Dubai Civil Defense (DCD) is protecting lives, properties and environment, and to provide fast professional service, efficient investment of human and material sources to give best results,” says DCD’s Lt. Col. Ali Almutawa. “The introduction of Martin Jetpacks into our fleet of emergency response vehicles is another example of how Dubai leads the world”
The Martin Jetpack can be flown by a pilot or via remote control, with the ability to take-off and land vertically (VTOL) and operate in confined spaces. According to the New Zealand-based company, the jetpacks will allow for the rapid deployment of civil defense roles, such as intelligent surveillance, initial intervention, heavy lift payload drone, high-rise rescue, and rapid deployment of specialist teams.
In other words, if a skyscraper is on fire, fire service personnel will be able to reach the flames faster.
The two parties are currently working toward the future delivery of up to 20 jetpacks and two simulators, along with support and operational training, but there is still no word on the exact price or delivery date of the jetpacks.
Peter Coker, Martin Jetpack CEO, recently spoke with Arabian Business about the product’s capabilities. “There are two ducted fans driven by a two-liter, two-stroke V4 engine, which has 200 horsepower. It flies 74 kph, up to 3,000 feet, and has about 30 to 45 minute endurance right now,” he said. “It can carry up to 120 kilograms and can be flown manned or unmanned, like a UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] or a drone. Of course, it’s a heavy-flight UAV unlike the little ones that carry up to eight kilograms, we can carry up to 120 kilograms.”
How could this possibly be safe? Vertical take-off and landing in a hot region like Dubai? With a 264-pound carrying capacity?
In theory, it sounds like an innovative way to put out fires on the 163rd floor of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest artificial structure, but how would firefighters be able to carry enough water to put out a fire with just a 264-pound carrying capacity? If they use hoses, will the firefighters be able to control the direction of the jetpacks in conjunction with the water pressure from the hose?
Or is this just a city known for its excessiveness being flashy? Is this a stunt to showcase the value of the city’s extravagance over the safety of its fire personnel and citizens? Maybe I’m being skeptical, and this really is an innovative solution to a high-rise problem, but I can’t help to think that this is nothing more than a publicity stunt.
What are your thoughts? Is Dubai risking the safety of its firefighters to showcase its lavish technology? Share your thoughts by commenting below, tweeting me @kaylieannduffy, or emailing me at Kaylie.Duffy@advantagemedia.com.
