How GuardianUTM helped London Biggin Hill Airport create an unimaginable security video

With regards to security, Ben Spiers is aware of his stuff. 

He’s Head of Security and Compliance at London Biggin Hill Airport, in addition to being  Co-Chair of the Airport Operators Affiliation  (AOA) Security and Compliance Working Group,  and Co-Chair of the UK Wildlife Hazard Administration Discussion board. So, it’s protected to say security is a precedence for Ben. 

When it got here time to movie a brand new security induction video for London Biggin Hill Airport, it was essential for the group to create one thing partaking that may assist embed the concepts and values wanted to maintain everybody protected and compliant inside the  airport.

Drones at London Biggin Hill Airport

London Biggin Hill Airport is the UK’s quickest evolving enterprise aviation airport. Over the past decade, sustained funding in new hangars and infrastructure has  attracted world enterprise, and there are right now over 70 corporations using greater than 1,400 individuals on the 500-acre website. 

Resident corporations embody Bombardier and Components 1 – each main tech innovators using extremely expert engineers, interns and apprentices, making  London Biggin Hill one of many greatest job creators in Bromley. 

London Biggin Hill strives to be London’s preeminent full-service enterprise aviation airport offering its buyer with a protected, discreet and fast switch by means of the airport. You may suppose that drone operations can be at odds with London Biggin Hill’s privateness and discretion. Actually, the group are eager to work with drone operators.

“There’s a standard false impression that drones in an airport are unsafe, however after they’re managed and the precise danger assessments are being achieved, they’ll truly be extremely helpful.”
Ben Spiers, Head of Security and Compliance at London Biggin Hill Airport

The advantages of protected drone integration led Ben and his group, in conjunction with Biggin Hill Air Visitors Management, to implement Altitude Angel’s GuardianUTM platform at London Biggin Hill. Beforehand, drone operators had made requests to fly inside the airport’s airspace by telephone or e-mail. Now, with GuardianUTM drone operators can digitally request approvals, making the method safer and extra environment friendly.

“We need to make it as simple as attainable for drone operators to request permission to fly inside the ATZ (Aerodrome Visitors Zone). We need to reassure everybody that we work with drone operators, fairly than towards them, to make sure the security of passengers which can be travelling to and from the airport.”
Ben Spiers, Head of Security and Compliance at London Biggin Hill Airport

Elevating security movies

With a number of operators understanding of London Biggin Hill Airport, there are many those who have to be skilled and vetted by the airport. A part of this course of contains ensuring everyone seems to be working to the identical excessive commonplace of security, which incorporates watching a security induction video, created by London Biggin Hill Airport and now endorsed by the UK CAA.

And whereas the video may have been shot from the bottom, Ben knew that you just’d get far more engagement with aerial footage.

“Photographs taken from the air give individuals an actual perspective of the airport and its entirety. We wished to make sure that we catered for all sorts of studying wants and types with a movie that was each clear and interesting.” 
Ben Spiers, Head of Security and Compliance at London Biggin Hill Airport

The group knew a drone can be an effective way of getting the footage, and the videographer advisable a drone operator. 

Drone operations

“Quinton was already registered on Altitude Angel’s platform, so we may see his pilot ID and flight historical past. Quinton additionally had one of many highest approvals you possibly can get with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) so we felt assured we might get the  footage we would have liked.”
Ben Spiers, Head of Security and Compliance at London Biggin Hill Airport

The pilot in query was Quinton Quayle, who since 2017 has been operating a drone companies enterprise. 

“There are lots of severe functions for drones: to examine buildings, surveys, thermography, 3D modelling, mapping, that kind of factor. Then there’s the enjoyable ingredient: utilizing the drone as a floating digital camera, enhancing it with handheld cameras, and a little bit of animation to make content material for individuals.” Quinton Quayle, Director at Quayle Industries Ltd

Quinton actively seeks enhanced permissions to offer higher companies to his shoppers. Because of this he can fly greater than the drone code normally permits (as much as 750 ft) in addition to prolonged line of sight operations. And, as a result of Quinton makes use of Altitude Angel’s drone planning instruments, Ben may see that he had loads of  expertise, together with inside different Flight Restricted Zones (FRZs).

“I’ve been utilizing Altitude Angel’s planning instruments since I began working commercially. They function very closely in my planning and are a great way for me to shortly risk-assess the airspace earlier than I begin a flight. I like the truth that they provide me the flexibility to shortly see air and floor hazards. I discover it a pleasant sturdy system. Simple to make use of, and I swear by it.”
Quinton Quayle, Director at Quayle Industries Ltd

Quinton’s use of Altitude Angel’s Drone Help and Operator Portal meant planning and approving his flight was simple. 

Elevating airport operations

London Biggin Hill’s new security induction video is much extra fascinating, way more partaking, and much more practical because of Ben and Quinton’s work. It goes to indicate how drones generally is a actual profit to airports, and Quinton hopes it can assist extra airports see what they’ll do with drones. 

London Biggin Hill Airport have used Altitude Angel’s GuardianUTM to enhance security and effectivity of their approvals course of.

Watch an extract from the video right here: