Expanding the testing facilities is crucial for the growing drone industry and strengthens the Unmanned Valley ecosystem within the region. The current test area is often fully booked and could not always be used for building inspections. With the signing of this usage agreement, this is now possible! The collaboration also offers benefits for FC Rijnvogels, such as the opportunity to integrate these advanced technologies and explore further collaboration.

To symbolically kick off the partnership, FC Rijnvogels president Marcel van Duijn, Unmanned Valley director Theo de Vries, and alderman Jacco Knape (Katwijk, Economy) gathered together. The alderman remarked: “A beautiful, innovative collaboration between two ‘neighbors,’ where the football club’s grounds are also used during the day!” After signing the user agreement, the first flight was conducted over the football club’s grounds. This flight not only resulted in stunning footage but also allowed the drone to deliver the pen with which the usage agreement was signed.

Building inspections with drones offer numerous advantages over traditional methods. By avoiding dangerous situations, drones increase safety and speed up the inspection process. The development of this technology has advanced rapidly in recent years, making it more accessible to many companies and organizations. Additionally, modern sensors are capable of easily collecting high-quality data, even in hard-to-reach areas. Furthermore, drones minimally disrupt daily activities and have a smaller ecological footprint. Thanks to these innovations, drones are an efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly choice for building inspections.

The expectation is that this method will increasingly be used in the near future. However, properly trained pilots are needed. The collaboration between Unmanned Valley and FC Rijnvogels is an important step in integrating drone technology into various sectors. Both parties look forward to the collaboration, which will contribute to the development of both the drone industry and the region.