50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

Lufthansa Aerial Services division inks deal with drone-maker DJI

Download: Printable PDF Date: 27 Jan 2016 06:49 (UTC) category:
Publisher:
Lufthansa Aerial Services division inks deal with drone-maker DJI - Airlines publisher
Tatjana Obrazcova
Country: Germany Aircraft: Drones

Lufthansa Aerial Services, a division of Lufthansa Consulting, today signed a deal with DJI to use the world’s leading drone-maker’s aerial platforms to develop commercial applications for its key customers. Using DJI’s drones and open onboard systems, Lufthansa will integrate hardware and software, manage operation of the technology and facilitate data analysis. The two companies will work together to optimize the technology for special requirements sought by Lufthansa Aerial Services customers.

“Lufthansa Aerial Services is a perfect partner for DJI for joint market development of commercialUAV-applications,” said Martin Brandenburg, DJI’s European Marketing Director. “The feedback from Lufthansa’s clients is of great value for the further development of our products.”

“The market potential of commercial drone applications is growing inexorably thanks to the continuously improving regulatory situation and speed of technological progress in the market and innovation that DJI as the global leader has initiated. This includes a variety of commercial applications such as for infrastructure inspection, measuring and monitoring purposes,” says Christian Hartmann, program director of Lufthansa Aerial Services.

Lufthansa Aerial Services e.g. recently completed a pilot project with a wind-turbine manufacturer, using DJI equipment to inspect rotor blades on wind turbines. The task previously required manual inspection using a steeplejack – a more-dangerous and time-consuming method. In addition to the safety factor, drones can collect data that can be used later for analysis, such as how frequently a rotor blade needs inspection and maintenance.

Lufthansa Aerial Services is also involved in aviation-industry projects at and around airports, as demonstrated through recent tests with Fraport and DFS on Frankfurt International Airport, but also carrying out joint inspections of Lufthansa aircraft surfaces with sister company Lufthansa Technik.

Beyond these mentioned example use cases, LAS also plans to deploy drones equipped with thermal-imaging systems that can facilitate day-to-day inspections of infrastructure, such as wind power and photovoltaic systems, electricity and railroad lines and pipelines laid above ground. Aerial technology also makes it easier to monitor crops, construction and extraction sites.

Though commercial drones are readily available, many of LAS’s key clients and manufacturers choose not to operate them by themselves, because it is not their core business. Many clients also prefer to outsource due to the technology’s complexity, knowledge of regulatory frameworks and quality and safety-management issues.

“Lufthansa will offer clients a one-stop UAV-shop,” says Andreas Jahnke, Managing Director of Lufthansa Consulting. “This includes everything from application consulting and drone operation with data analysis, to training and certification of drone pilots at Lufthansa Flight Training, or even the provision of drone insurance solutions through Delvag, Lufthansa’s in-house insurer.”





Recommended

Magma Aviation expands and enhances operations in 2024

Magma Aviation made significant progress in 2024. With its strategic hubs in Europe and expansions in Dubai and Dublin, Magma Aviation is well-positioned to make substantial improvements in opera...

Embraer begins production of Austria’s first C-390 Millennium

Embraer has officially begun the structural assembly of the first C-390 Millennium for Austria. This major step took place during an official ceremony held at the Gavião Peixoto production faci...

Liebherr-Aerospace expands its MRO capabilities in the Middle East

Liebherr-Aerospace and Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH), the aerospace platform of Dubai dedicated to the advancement of the aviation industry, signed an agreement for the new Liebherr S...

Jet OUT soars into South Florida with new base at Fort Lauderdale Airport

Jet OUT announced the opening of its newest base at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. This expansion marks the company's first move outside the Midwest, bringing its innovative loca...

Android Apps development in Riga, Latvia