We’re talking, like, $10 million in drones to replace one pilot for 18 minutes.
I don’t see any reason to believe there’s a pilot shortage, and I don’t understand what’s wrong with the current targeting, or how that could be improved. There’s a whole strategy to fighting fires of this scale. I don’t think the strategies are obvious to people on the ground.
* there aren't enough pilots
* pilots understandably don't want to fly too close to the fire
But a drone might be able to get away with carrying less water and do more of a targeted squirt.