SKYDOG ATI LLC

GEM RESPONSE

SAR operations for missing canines in winter conditions are time-critical. Given the "short hair" description and the 8-day timeline in New Hampshire January weather, we must assume the subjects are in survival mode. They are likely seeking thermal refuge (deep brush, barns, wind breaks) and minimizing movement to conserve calories.

Here is your flight plan based on the provided intel and "Lessons from the Field."

​

1. Airspace & Pre-Flight Check

• Status: Check FAA UAS Facility Maps.

  • Sugar Hill/Lisbon Area: typically Class G (uncontrolled) airspace below 700/1200ft AGL, but this region is near military training routes (MOAs) often used by the NH Air National Guard. Check for TFRs (Temporary Flight Restrictions) or active MOAs immediately via apps like Air Control or AirHub Portal.

• NOTAMs: Verify no active Notices to Air Missions for low-level military training.

2. Weather Forecast & Impact (Jan 19-20, 2026)

• Conditions: Expect highs in the 20s°F and lows in the single digits.

• Thermal Impact (Critical):

  • Humidity/Fog: January in this region often brings high relative humidity. Water vapor absorbs LWIR energy, drastically cutting your range. If you cannot see 100 yards with your eyes due to haze/fog, the thermal likely can't either.

  • Icing: If hovering in moist air below freezing, watch your props. Icing can occur rapidly.

  • Sensor Drift: The cold ambient temp vs. the hot drone body will cause sensor noise. Let the drone acclimate outside for a few minutes before flight and frequently use the FFC (Flat Field Correction) button to recalibrate.

  • Sun: If sunny, rocks and trees will heat up (thermal clutter). Plan flights for dawn or dusk when the ground is cool but the dogs (living targets) still emit heat.

3. Search Areas & Statistical Likelihood

Subject Profile: Two dogs (Pitbull/Hound), short hair, missing 8 days. Behavior: Likely in Fight or Flight. They will likely ignore calls and avoid humans. They are seeking: 1. Safety, 2. Water, 3. Food.

Search Priorities (Weighted):

• Priority 1: Salmon Hole Brook Corridor (North/North-East of Pin)

  • Weight: High

  • Why: You noted they headed North. Dogs follow the "path of least resistance" and water sources. Salmon Hole Brook is the major geographic catch-line North of Foss Forest. They may be traveling the banks or have become stuck in the drainage.

  • Tactic: Fly the river banks at tree-top level (150' AGL) to look under the canopy overhangs.

• Priority 2: Structures & "Heat Islands" (Barns/Porches)

  • Weight: High

  • Why: 8 days in NH winter is brutal for short-haired breeds. Survival instinct drives them to seek artificial heat or wind blocks. Scan nearby barns, outbuildings, and hay bales along Pearl Lake Rd and Crane Hill Rd.

  • Tactic: Use Tint or IronRed palette to spot heat leakage or the biological signature against the cold building.

• Priority 3: South-Facing Slopes (Sun Exposure)

  • Weight: Medium

  • Why: On sunny days, animals will move to East/South-facing slopes to warm up.

  • Tactic: Scan these slopes in the mid-afternoon before the sun sets.

• Priority 4: Deep Brush/Blowdowns (Foss Forest)

  • Weight: Medium

  • Why: Injured or terrified dogs will "hunker down" in deep brush.

  • Tactic: Requires an oblique gimbal angle (see below).

4. Suggested Launch Sites

Note: Always verify with the Incident Commander (IC) or property owners.

• Primary (High Ground): Field off Crane Hill Rd (East of Pin)

  • Look for the open fields along Crane Hill Rd (North-East of the red pin).

  • Why: "A launch site 50 feet higher can mean maintaining connection behind a ridgeline". This elevation gives you Line of Sight (VLOS) down into the Salmon Hole Brook valley.

• Secondary (Access): Pearl Lake Rd / Foss Forest Entrance

  • Why: Proximity to the Last Known Point (LKP). Good for "hasty searches" of the immediate woods, but signal may be blocked by the rising terrain to the North/East.

• Relay Option: If you have the DJI D-RTK 3, set it up on the highest point of Pearl Lake Rd to act as a repeater, extending your signal range into the brook valley.

5. Pilot Flight Tactics (Specific to this Mission)

• Gimbal Angle: 70° (Oblique)

  • Do not fly 90° straight down. You need to see the "side profile" of the dogs, especially if they are under trees. A 90° view is blocked by branches; a 70° view sees under the edges of the canopy.

• The "Pivot" Maneuver:

  • Fly your grid lines. When you reach the end of a leg (near the brook or deep woods), stop and spin 360° while tilting the gimbal between 55° and 70°. This lets you look "deep" into the woods before turning back.

• Scanner Technique:

  • Look for Delta T (temperature difference). A dog might not be "hot" (white) if their fur is cold, but they will look different than the snow/ground.

  • Use the Min/Max Temp Window (box tool) on the M4T/M30T. Draw a box around a wooded area to isolate the temp range—this helps filter out false positives from rocks/water.