Cities discuss uniform European regulations at ADW Hybrid

The importance of uniform European regulations for drones was high on the agenda during the first day of Amsterdam Drone Week (ADW) at RAI Amsterdam. Figures from the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management show that the number of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles has risen sharply in recent years. Patrick Ky, Executive Director of the European aviation organisation EASA, links this increase to public opinion. “Some 93 percent of people are positive about drones.” 

Representatives from various European cities are spending two days discussing this and other issues at the EASA 'High Level Conference on Drones'. More than 250 experts from around the world will share recent developments in urban air mobility and explore the future during Amsterdam Drone Week.

This year’s edition of ADW Hybrid is taking place simultaneously with Intertraffic, the world's largest trade show for traffic technology and mobility. Both events represent a kind of 'reopening' for RAI Amsterdam after the long periods of COVID measures. “Apart from a couple of short interludes, our convention centre has been closed for almost two years,” says CEO Paul Riemens. “Fortunately, we can now meet in person again and that is the true added value of these kinds of trade events.”

Looking forward
Jaco Stremler, Director of Aviation at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, will present the 2022-2023 Action Plan for Unmanned Aviation on Thursday 31 March. “Drones are being used in the Netherlands for an increasing number of applications,” comments Goriska van Cooten, Unmanned Aviation programme manager at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. “These range from agriculture, medical transport, public works and water management to delivering medicines to the Wadden Islands and search & rescue actions in the North Sea.”

There are also drones on display during ADW Hybrid that are used for blood transport (a collaboration between ANWB, KPN and Erasmus MC, PostNL, Sanquin and Avy), a drone from Horyzn that is equipped with defibrillation equipment, and a surveillance drone from the Amsterdam police force. Flying demonstrations of these drones are being given in various places, including in hall 11 in the Drone Arena of RAI Amsterdam. The event also features a Showcase Area where the latest Unmanned Aerial Vehicles can be seen.