Police officers in Dubai have had every prized car — from a BMW i8 to a Lamborghini Aventador, McLaren MP4-12C, Ferrari FF, Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS and Audi R8 — as part of their supercharged fleet.
Well, being a firefighter in Dubai apparently has its perks, too. Martin Aircraft Company announced this week that it has reached an agreement with Dubai to outfit its firefighters with jetpacks so they can more easily combat skyscraper fires.
As part of its deal, the Dubai Civil Defence has ordered 20 twin-engine jetpacks and two simulators for training purposes. The jetpacks, which cost $35,000 per unit and can carry over 260 pounds each, can be flown by its pilot or via a remote control.
The extra weight that could be carried by the jetpack figure to come in handy for necessary equipment needed to deal with fires. Certainly, its ability to ascend quickly during a fire — where time is of the essence — will be crucial and possibly even stand to revolutionize the way big cities deal with skyscraper or high-rise building fires.
"The vision of Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) is protecting lives, properties and environment and to provide fast professional service, efficient investment of human and material sources to give best results," Lt. Colonel Ali Almutawa of the DCD said in Martin Aircraft Company's press release statement. "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."
