New advisory service to optimise drone use at venues and events

Paul Sergeant Events (PSE) and Secure Events and Assets (SEAA) have announced a partnership with the Institute for Drone Technology (IfDT) to provide a one-stop advisory, training and platform service about drones and counter drones for owners and operators of venues, events and crowded places.

The service will provide independent support and advice about all matters related to the operation of drones at venues, events and crowded places to those ultimately responsible for the safety and security of people and property.

Drones have grown in popularity in recent times and are being put to use in a host of different roles at events, such as for overhead cameras to offer television audiences a better view of the action.

Announcing the partnership, IfDT Chief Executive Dr Joel Spencer stated “the use of drones has increased significantly in recent years and, as drones become more technically advanced so too will be the way in which they are used.

“The growth in the use of drones is terrific but the successful integration of drone technology into existing operations needs to be done in a safe and effective way. This ensures the full value of the technology is realised.”

Paul Sergeant, Managing Director of PSE, who has managed many major venues and events in Australia and the Uunited Kingdeom, advised “the practical and commercial use of drones can have huge benefits for a business but currently many owners and operators don’t know where to turn for reliable, independent advice when drones are being operated at their venue or event.

“Additionally, there is a host of legalities in relation to airspace to consider and who has what authority and responsibility for what. Access to this group of subject matter experts is a great solution for senior executives, managers and insurers in what is a very new and emerging area of the business.”

SEAA Managing Director Jim Fidler added “from a public safety and security perspective, venue and event owners and operators really should consider having a well-prepared drone policy and strategy in place.

“It’s something else for directors and senior managers to think about but ignorance is no excuse in a court of law and this is just as essential as every other aspect of the industry.”

Unmanned aerial vehicles were used by the Austrian military as far back as 1849 and mini-drones have been used for photography for almost a decade.

As drones have come down in size and price, the number of users has dramatically increased. They have become more accessible to the public as well as a rapidly growing number of commercial organisations and used for a wide variety of applications that include gathering data, photography and even delivery. However, every positive has a negative, and there are growing concerns about the use of drones to threaten the privacy of people, protected places, large events and crowded places.

Dr Spencer concludes “counter drone technology has become a major issue and working with PSE and SEAA we will be able to provide the most up to date advice about what kind of options are available to organisations that want to get a better sense of the threats that are in their airspace and in turn what action they need to take.”