Search and Rescue FAQ
How much does it cost?
It can depend on the exact circumstances of a search but our base price is $350 for up to three batteries of flight time which is around 90 minutes depending on weather conditions (high winds will reduce this time). We do not require payment until after a search is completed. The only payment we need in advance is any travel costs involved getting to the search area but we provide full details of this at the time of the enquiry. Our fee is payable regardless of duration of the search. If extra time is requested after 3 batteries we can provide this on a pro rata rate ($120 per battery).
What happens once you spot our missing animal?
We generate a QR code from the exact position of the drone which you scan into your phone. This adds a pinpoint to Google maps which you then use to locate your missing animal. If conditions allow, we keep tracking the animal (if it's moving) or hover overhead and provide real time updates via phone (or provided walkie-talkie if in a no-signal area.
You don't recover the animal yourselves?
Your animal does not know us, is not familiar with our smell and will be scared of us. That is why we request that a person the animal knows be in attendance for the search to attempt a physical recovery. Our service provides a sighting and exact location of the lost animal, we'd do more harm than good if we also tried to recover it!
What payment facilities do you have?
Search fees are payable on conclusion of flights and can be paid by cash, PayID, BPay. VISA, MasterCard and EFTPOS facilities are available on the day subject to moible coverage. Card payments incur a 1.5% surcharge.
Agreed travel costs are payable in advance via PayID or verified BPay payment.
What is your success rate?
This is dependant on how soon you have contacted us from the last sighting and the type of animal (for example certain dogs can travel over 15km in one day). If we get in the air within 24 hours, chances of a successful sighting are good. After that, chances diminish rapidly. We have had successful sightings well after the 24 hour time period but please be aware time is of the essence in animal SAR.
Are there areas you can't fly?
All flights adhere strictly to CASA regulations. We are not permitted to fly over populous areas (this includes any building which may have people inside it). CASA own all Australian airspace, property owners do not - as long as we do not fly over their house a homeowner has no right to stop us flying (in fact there are very high penalties for anyone interfering with an inflight drone operating within the CASA regulations).
That said, we always encourage lost animal owners to advise people in the area they have employed a drone SAR service. As operators we also do what we can to notify any relevant property owner of a search out of good will - this is not always possible however.
Any lost animal owner on a recovery operation MUST seek any relevant property owners permission before attempting a recovery - NIMBUS DRONE SERVICES are not responsible for any physical recovery operation.
What time of day do you typically search?
During the Late Spring and Summer months, the ambient ground temperature from the suns rays mean an early morning search (before Sunrise) is required. At most other times our thermal camera will detect an animals body temperature through most of the day - this is obviously dependant on the amount of heat on the day in question but we will only start a search if conditions are optimal.