Amsterdam, City of Drones: RAI Amsterdam Launches New Initia…

Hosting the Commercial UAV Expo Europe this week, RAI (Amsterdam’s conference heart) CEO Paul Riemens launches the brand new “Amsterdam City of Drones” initiative.

“RAI Amsterdam aims to be more than an event organiser in this context,” says Riemens. “Our goal is to provide a platform for knowledge, contacts and innovation as we aim to make Amsterdam the drone capital of the world.”

Riemens sees RAI Amsterdam’s position within the initiative as an vital one: to deliver the related contributors collectively. “The drone industry is growing enormously, and we are seeing major opportunities to contribute to this by facilitating discussions, innovation and contacts,” he explains. “New European regulation for drones will be introduced in 2019, giving the sector a huge boost. A great deal is already possible in technological terms, and the coming years will show what businesses and organisations are willing and allowed to do with these new technologies, taking issues of privacy and safety into account. With its focus on education, innovation and technology, the city of Amsterdam is a perfect base to bring all these aspects together. Moreover, RAI Amsterdam has a huge network on which we can draw.”

The following is from the RAI Amsterdam press launch:

Leveraging an aviation community
As the previous CEO of the Dutch air visitors management heart, Luchtverkeersleiding Nederland, Riemens has an vital private contribution to make. He additionally beforehand chaired the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), the worldwide umbrella group of air visitors controllers. “Based on my prior experience, I have an understanding of how the use of drones could be regulated. The safety of air travel is a major issue.”

Riemens has additionally mobilized his contacts throughout the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. Both events will participate within the EASA High-Level Conference on Drones throughout the Amsterdam Drone Week later this 12 months, supporting the ‘Amsterdam City of Drones’ initiative.

An awesome place to begin
In addition to the data and progressive energy of the Amsterdam space and the lively involvement of the RAI, Amsterdam’s location and its infrastructure present main advantages. The metropolis is definitely accessible by way of Schiphol Airport, and has wonderful public transportation, first-rate lodge amenities and many of alternatives for social and academic programme parts. “The attractiveness of a city is always a key factor during the organisation of events,” Riemens emphasises. “This is another reason why Amsterdam is a logical choice as a hub for the drone industry.”

Activities in 2018
Several actions have already been programmed in 2018 underneath the aegis of ‘Amsterdam City of Drones’. For occasion, Commercial UAV Expo Europe, which is able to happen on the RAI on 10-12 April, is a pan-European occasion centered on the economic use of drones in contexts comparable to safety, infrastructure and agriculture. After a profitable starting in Brussels in 2017, the organisers selected to deliver the second version to Amsterdam.

Amsterdam Drone Week
From 26 to 30 November 2018, a variety of actions within the subject of drones might be hosted by the RAI underneath the flag of Amsterdam Drone Week (ADW). This business-to-business platform is meant for all firms with operations within the UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) sector or those that professionally deploy the related expertise. The numerous actions will deal with expertise, functions and elements comparable to privateness, regulation, security and safety.

EASA can even organise its High-Level Conference on Drones 2018 along with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management throughout ADW. ADW invitations all start-ups, regulators, firms and tutorial establishments to contribute concepts and initiatives.

Global scale
“There is an obvious synergy,” Riemens concludes. “Until now, most drone events were local and aimed at consumers. With this initiative, we would like to create a platform on a global scale, helping the sector develop as a whole.”