VIDEO: Sky is the limit for Dubai firefighters with jetpack technology

Equipment which Irish-based firefighters can only dream of using is becoming a reality in mega-rich Dubai, with emergency crews in the Persian Gulf city are to be equipped with jetpacks.

New Zealand-based Martin Aircraft Company Limited, which has been forging a reputation as a world leader in jetpack technology, announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Directorate of Civil Defence in Dubai for “the intended future delivery of manned and unmanned jetpacks, simulators, spares parts, support services, and both pilot and engineer training for appropriate Civil Defence and Fire Service personnel”.

The deal was recently signed at the Dubai Air Show in the United Arab Emirates, and would allow firemen to respond to emergency situations in the city’s skyscrapers where otherwise access could be an issue.

Chief among them is the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which stands at 830m tall.

Lieutenant Colonel Ali Hassan Almutawa, director of operations in Dubai’s Civil Defence, said: “The vision of Dubai Civil Defence is protecting lives, properties and environment and to provide fast professional service, efficient investment of human and material sources to give best results.

“Dubai is one of the fastest growing future cities in the world with its modern skyscrapers and vast infrastructure it has always been a world leader in adapting new technology to improve and save people’s lives, the introduction of Martin Jetpacks into our fleet of emergency response vehicles is another example of how Dubai leads the world.”

The deal would involve up to 20 jetpacks being provided, as well as two simulators.

The jetpack can take off and land vertically, and Martin Aircraft chief executive, Peter Coker, said: “Martin Aircraft provides organisations such as the Dubai Civil Defence a significant operational advantage, being able to carry commercial payloads of up to 120kg unlike quadcopters which are limited to only a few kilos.”

However, the Burj Khalifa might have a challenger for its title of world’s tallest structure, with reports that the architects behind it are planning on constructing a 1km tower in Saudi Arabia.