You have a 4-year-old child who was last observed wandering a large desert area. Besides K9's, what resources would be best used in a large area?

Using a helicopter in a search and rescue operation for a 4-year-old child wandering in a large desert area offers several advantages. Helicopters provide a unique vantage point, allowing searchers to cover vast areas quickly and efficiently. They can operate at altitude, which helps in spotting individuals or heat signatures from the air, greatly increasing the chances of locating the child promptly.

Helicopters can also be equipped with searchlights, infrared cameras, and other advanced technology that enhances visibility during day or night operations. Additionally, they can reach remote areas that may be inaccessible or difficult to traverse on the ground, ensuring that no potential search areas are overlooked.

While ground resources such as horses, quads, or all-terrain vehicles can be effective in their own right for navigating rugged terrain, they typically do not provide the same scope and speed of coverage as aerial support. Ground searchers might take significantly longer to patrol larger distances, whereas a helicopter can swiftly assess large swaths of land, which is crucial in a time-sensitive situation involving a missing child.