Who are we?

SOS DroneTeam NL is a Foundation that was founded as a volunteer organization in 2022 by Timothy Schroeter together with Rini Schel and Marcel van Loock. 

We consist of a large network of certified drone pilots spread throughout the Netherlands and nowadays also Belgium.

We have noticed that since 2021, the demand for pilots during missing people or animals has increased sharply.

To meet this social need, this foundation has been set up and we try to be easily accessible to everyone nationwide.

Het Operations Team

Lysander Lotter Homan

Bestuur l Allround | Communicatie | Drone operator | Training

Airdata UAV|Drone Safety Verified Badge

Experienced drone pilot originated from the hobby. The helpful nature of this team is where the satisfaction comes from. With a healthy can-do attitude, ensure the right flight plans and safety.

Rini Schel

Bestuur l Allround | IT Admin | Communicatie l Drone operator | Security

Airdata UAV|Drone Safety Verified Badge

Also runs his own security company, shares his knowledge and experience within this organization, IT technical, security and keeps a close eye on communication.

Richard Vivo

Bestuur l Allround | Communicatie | Drone operator | Training

Airdata UAV|Drone Safety Verified Badge

Since 2008 active with his photography company and from 2018 drones out of passion added. As a result, the passion for drones has also taken on a business character. With Specific STS01 / PDRA 01 and in possession of an Operational Manual with corresponding Operating License.

Marcel van Loock

Bestuur l Allround | Communicatie | Drone operator

From hobby In combination with a helping heart, the ideal opportunity to help people and animals in need. He also manages his own social media groups in order to be able to provide extra information in his own environments, among other things. 

René van Kleef

Operations l Allround | Communicatie | Drone operator | Safety Officer | Vertrouwens persoon

Airdata UAV|Drone Safety Verified Badge

Drone pilot originated from the hobby. Was a professional firefighter in Alphen aan den Rijn for 25 years. Employed by the Police since 2007 and manages the 112 Control Rooms in The Hague and Rotterdam in the functional area. Likes to make flying hours with his DJI Inspire in realistic terrain. With his experience as a first responder, peace/calmness in chaotic situations, he makes a nice contribution to the OPS team.

Timothy Schroeter

Operations l Allround | Communicatie | Drone operator | Training

Airdata UAV|Drone Safety Verified Badge

Active with drones since 2017.  Started his own drone company since 2021

In July 2022, together with Rini, he founded the SOS DroneTeam NL, an experienced, active force in the OPS Team after a short break.

Nick van Iersel

Operations l Allround | Communicatie | Drone operator | Technical Officer | Vertrouwens persoon

Airdata UAV|Drone Safety Verified Badge

Comes from a family where counseling is in the blood and from home I was taught that as soon as you have the opportunity to help someone else, do the same. After years of experience in the computer world and retail, the switch was made to the control room world. The passion for computers, communication, emergency services and drones means that the role of OPS in the sosdrone team is written for him.
Always a listening, a joke and joke where possible and serious where necessary.

Cock van Pieterson

Operations l Allround | Communicatie | Drone operator |

Airdata UAV|Drone Safety Verified Badge

Experienced drone pilot, active since 2019 and back with the OPS Team after a short hiatus.
My other hobbies are music and amateur radio (PA3BGS).

Nationally and internationally I worked for 35 years at a large American computer company.
My motivation for dedicating myself to the SOS Drone Team is to search for people and animals that are missing

What do we do?

In the past 10 years, the development of drones has accelerated. Drones have also become affordable for consumers, partly due to this rapid growth, which means that nowadays everyone can purchase their own drone. To be able to fly legally, a mandatory registration and if the drone is heavier than 250 grams, a course is mandatory. But when this is completed, we will focus on these pilots so that our pilot network continues to grow, because the larger our network, the greater the chance of success stories after a missing person.

 

When do we come in action?

Of course, we are happy to dedicate ourselves to every search of humans and animals.
However, we can only take action after a request and/or call from a search organization or at the request of the emergency services.
Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to turn out for every missing dog in the Netherlands, no matter how much we would like to.

Specifically, in the event of a missing person, you must first report to a (sniffer dog) search organization or volunteer association that specializes in finding pets or missing persons. If they decide that support from a drone is needed, we would like to hear from the healthcare organization.

We can also contribute to citizens' initiatives when a person goes missing and we take action with our drone equipment and volunteers. 
Here too, we would like to emphasize once again that we will only take action if all legal (European) rules regarding flying drones can be complied with.

Finally 

SOS DroneTeam NL is always open to feedback to constantly. to optimize.

We build up a lot of experience by doing it together. If you have feedback, please let us know. 

Comments can also be posted here.