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SQEP reports from Helitech Expo/DroneX 2024

This week, our Business Development SQEP, Shelley Rees, has been on the ground at the combined Helitech Expo / DroneX Tradeshow & Conference at Excel London.

This week, our Business Development SQEP, Shelley Rees, has been on the ground at the combined Helitech Expo / DroneX Tradeshow & Conference at Excel London.

“Events like these are unique opportunities to literally ‘read the room’ of a sector – to get a sense of what’s ahead and the challenges manufacturers, operators and their supply chains are facing to achieve their aspirations,” Shelley writes.

“DroneX is particularly relevant this year, as the whole world has seen an exponential growth in the utilisation of drones in a wide range of applications. Drones are now employed for on-site material delivery, livestock management, emergency medical deliveries, firefighting, security monitoring, air quality measurement, sound level monitoring and of course, combat.

“Significantly for SQEP, DroneX 2024 featured a comprehensive overview of UAV integration into the existing aviation framework.”

“There was a particularly good programme of seminars at this year’s shows. Of note were:

  • An update on the Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) Programme from programme manager, Cyril Heckel, at the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA).
  • A thought-provoking presentation from Jenny Ward, Deputy Director Aviation Safety, Innovation & Skills at the UK Department of Transport, entitled ‘Setting Direction for the UK’s Future of Flight’
  • Insight from PwC’s Head of Drones, Craig Roberts, on progress in the UK drone industry
  • And a look at the National Digital Data Backbone for Airspace Integration from Andrew Sage, Director of Safety Transformation at NATS.”

Shelley concludes: “In summary, a great opportunity to gain some firsthand experience of industry innovation and to discuss the future landscape of interoperable airspace, face-to-face.”

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If you’d like to find out more about the programmes mentioned above, you can find more information here:
NGRC: https://lnkd.in/eZFkmAHa
Future of Flight: https://lnkd.in/eytEeHER
PWC on drones: https://lnkd.in/erwfmErf
NATS on Integrated airspace: https://lnkd.in/eYcR–Qr

Follow SQEP on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sqep-ltd