A BORDERS-based search team is leading the way with high-flying technology.

And the recently-formed Search and Rescue Aerial Association Scotland has already put their drone into action during the hunt for a missing person along the River Tweed.

The introduction of drones is thought to be one of the most significant developments in mountain rescue since search dogs were introduced in the 1960s.

SARAA-Scotland's currently trained operator Tom Nash, who served 15 years in the RAF as a Tornado navigator, used the device earlier this month during a local missing-person search.

He said: “During the Borders search I was tasked to cover three kilometres along a river – which is a huge area. 

"One side was a steep banking which was a high risk area for searchers on the ground but the drone could get a good look right along it. 

"The terrain would have been very difficult to search on foot.

"We could then say with confidence we knew the missing person wasn't there so the ground searchers could be deployed elsewhere more effectively.

"Regulations mean we can only fly the drone to a maximum of 500 metres from the SUA pilot and we need to keep it in sight at all times but we carried out that search in 67 minutes which was far quicker than it would have taken on the ground.

"The drones will show us where missing people aren't as well as where they are. For instance, if someone was lying down in a field of barley it's likely only a drone would spot them and it can check areas where we could not get to on foot or even with a search dog.”

Last year the Scottish Mountain Rescue carried out a feasibility study to look at how drones could help in search and rescue operations.

And they found there was a clear need for them.

SARAA-Scotland now has one drone that is operational and hopes to have another five in action by early next year.

The locally-based volunteers will undergo special training in the coming weeks and months with Flyby Technology. 

Drones range in price from £3,500 for the model SARAA-Scotland currently uses up to £30,000 for a device that includes thermal camera and the latest high technology zoom lens.

The Borders-based Association has now put in grant applications in a bid to buy more drones and is also on the lookout for businesses or individuals to sponsor them.

Chairman Dave Wright said: “We will be recruiting people to fly the drones who are already mountain rescue team members – people with a search and rescue background who can look after themselves out there.

"It's now a case of getting the funds to buy the kit we need, distribute it and train the members and at the start of next year it's hoped we will have six pilots being trained by Flyby. This is pretty cutting edge stuff. 

"How do you effectively use a drone flying over open moorland differently than if you were searching a river? 

"We are still finding out and doing more training and test flights so the pilots will have the knowledge of the experience we are now building up.”