Thirty Flight Hours Over Six Months Providing Situational Awareness

Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER S-100, supported by Three Tis Group, has been deployed as a first emergency response tool, providing critical situational information during the Kim Kim River toxic pollution crisis in Malaysia.

In March 2019 more than two tons of illegal chemical waste were dumped in the Kim Kim River, which is located near the largest industrial area in Johor Malaysia. As a result, toxic fumes were released throughout the adjoining area, affecting more than 6,000 people, with many being hospitalised and numerous schools being closed.

The Malaysia Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC), in collaboration with the Malaysian armed forces, called for a first emergency disaster response to analyse and scan the polluted river and adjoining area. The CAMCOPTER S-100 was the unmanned air system (UAS) of choice and was deployed from March to September 2019 by the armed forces, supported by Schiebel’s partner, Three Tis Group, to gain situational information of the affected area. The UAS was operated by day and night for a total of approximately 30 flight hours.

The UAS was equipped with FLIR Systems’ STAR SAFIRE 380-HDc, which delivers stabilised multi-spectral imaging and intelligence functions.

“The CAMCOPTER S-100 is perfectly suited for emergency response in crisis situations. Given its small size and innovative technology, it is capable of flying in difficult terrain whilst collecting valuable data,” explained Tunku Ahmad Zahir Bin Tunku Ibrahim, Managing Director at Three Tis Group.