We look back with pride on the BVLOS drone event that took place on March 19 at Den Helder Airport. Together with Ecowende – a joint venture of Shell, Eneco, and Chubu – we brought together industry partners around an important development: offshore Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations.
An important part of the program was a groundbreaking offshore drone operation from Den Helder Airport to the Ecowende wind farm, located 53 kilometers off the coast of IJmuiden. This milestone demonstrates what is already possible today and marks an important step in the further development of BVLOS operations outside the 12-nautical-mile zone.
This development underscores the role of Den Helder Airport in the future of offshore aviation:
A strategic location for operations in the North Sea
Facilities that enable innovative drone operations
A strong connection between aviation, offshore, and the energy sector
A platform for collaboration between industry, government, and knowledge institutions
During the event, visitors were given an exclusive look into operations at Den Helder Airport, from pre-flight processes to the integration of drones into controlled airspace. In the plenary sessions, partners and experts shared their insights on regulations, safety, and the scaling up of BVLOS operations.
We thank all speakers and partners for their valuable contributions, including Huy Tran (NASA), Ecowende, HiDef Aerial Surveying, Primoco UAV SE, and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (DGLM).
Additionally, we thank the Coast 2 Coast EV delegation from California for their presence and valuable contribution to the event.
Finally, we express our appreciation for the excellent collaboration with Corine Steenwijk, with whom we jointly organized and coordinated this event.
Together, we are working on the future of sustainable aviation and offshore innovation, with Den Helder Airport as a key link.