Tainan opens drone training center

台南啟用無人機訓練中心

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tainan Fire Department said Monday that it had opened a drone training center at CTBC University of Technology.

The department said the center would improve emergency response efficiency. It has trained 64 drone operators with advanced professional qualifications.

Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) presided over the opening ceremony. He said drone operators could now train locally instead of traveling elsewhere, according to a city government press release.

Huang said technology requires skilled operators to achieve maximum efficiency. He cited the deployment of 12-lead electrocardiogram equipment, which helped paramedics increase the success rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases from 27% to 39%.

Huang said drones were becoming increasingly important for surveying rough terrain and monitoring rescue efforts. He added that firefighters had previously needed to travel to Kaohsiung for drone training.

The partnership with CTBC University of Technology saves time and manpower while developing local expertise.

The department said professional training requires certified facilities. The university has classrooms and testing sites approved by the Civil Aviation Administration, allowing the department’s drone operators to train regularly.

The department said the partnership would extend beyond access to facilities to include professional training, technical exchanges, and new technology.