Heliguy Installs Drone Defence At Gatwick Airport

• Heliguy has provided Gatwick Airport with a sophisticated drone defence system;

• The installation follows last year's Chrismas disruption at the airport;

• Heliguy is a key player in industry-leading talks and demonstrations to protect UK airspace from rogue drones;

• Heliguy has already installed counter-UAS technology at a number of major UK airports and prisons;

• Heliguy's drone defence team offers a comprehensive service of consultancy, installation and maintenance, which is key for successful operation. Contact us by or .

North East England UAS specialist Heliguy has provided Gatwick Airport with a sophisticated drone defence system, which now forms part of the airport’s overall counter UAV capability to protect itself from rogue attacks and to stop a repeat of the disruption caused last Christmas.

The UK’s second busiest airport has been prompted to take action following the suspected drone sightings in December, which grounded more than 1,000 flights and impacted 140,000 passengers.

Gatwick chose Heliguy as its critical supplier and we have recently installed the counter-drone technology, as part of a broader, comprehensive solution which protects the airport from a wide range of unmanned aircraft.

The drone defence system being lifted into place.

As a drone defence specialist, Heliguy has been a key player in industry-leading talks and demonstrations to protect UK airspace from rogue UAVs.

Heliguy responded quickly to our initial request for drone defence in December and pulled out all the stops to make this happen. Since then, we have worked closely with them to build part of the airport’s overall solution.

Gatwick Spokesman

For drone detection and defence Heliguy teams and works with a breadth of leading technology partners to offer a layered solution. This includes , developers of the world’s leading UTM (unmanned traffic management) Solution, and , a leading systems integrator and developer of the FACE (Fusion Assessment Control Engine) Command and Control software.

Heliguy has already installed counter-UAS technology at a number of major UK airports and prisons and is in discussions with international airports and major mines around the world to expand our provision.

Earlier this year, , which detected illegally-flown drones during the weekend and helped police respond quickly.

DJI AeroScope, provided by Heliguy, helped to detect drones during this year's British Grand Prix weekend.

Last November, – a world-first demonstration at Manchester Airport to test how drones and traditional aircraft can safely share the same airspace. It was led by aviation technology company Altitude Angel, as well as Manchester Airport and NATS.

‘We Are Proud To Be Part of Gatwick’s Drone Defence Strategy’

Installing a permanent drone detection system at Gatwick – the ninth-busiest airport in Europe – is a major success for Heliguy and endorses our reputation in the industry.

Heliguy is proud to be working with Gatwick Airport.

Heliguy initially stepped into the breach in December following an appeal from Gatwick for an expert supplier to provide a temporary DJI AeroScope detection unit, amid the pre-Christmas disruption.

Our team duly responded and, working in conjunction with DJI, made a special trip down from North Shields, on Christmas Eve, to fit the system.

Since then, we have been working with the airport to build the right drone defence package – managing infrastructure, supplying the equipment and offering consultancy and out-of-hours advice along the way.

We believe that our solution will help Gatwick Airport to robustly defend itself from irresponsible drone flights and stop a repeat of last year’s pre-Christmas disruption

Michael Smith, Part of Heliguy's drone defence team

And after an initial trial period, Heliguy was delighted to be confirmed as one of Gatwick’s chosen partners, which culminated in the permanent installation of our counter-drone solution. Heliguy will continue to provide assistance to Gatwick.

Heliguy staff preparing the drone defence system at Gatwick Airport.

Speaking about the installation, Michael Smith, Heliguy’s drone defence specialist, said: “We are proud to be one of Gatwick’s chosen drone defence partners and it has been a pleasure to work with them.

“As the UK’s leading drone supplier, we know how many advantages drones bring to both hobbyist flyers and those in the working world – helping to save time, reduce risk and increase efficiency.

Heliguy's Michael Smith.

"However, as a responsible drone provider, we understand that, from time to time, drones can fall into the wrong hands, so it is important that those at risk of an attack are protected from rogue and irresponsible operators.

“Our drone defence system has a track record of detecting illegal UAS flights and providing early intervention.

“Over the last year, we have been at the forefront of crucial talks about protecting UK airspace and we have demonstrated what can be achieved when the best products in the industry are amalgamated into one integration tool.

“We believe that our solution will help Gatwick Airport to robustly defend itself from irresponsible drone flights and stop a repeat of last year’s pre-Christmas disruption.”

A spokesman for Gatwick Airport said: “Following the incident at Gatwick Airport last Christmas, we have stepped up our counter-drone technology to ensure the continued safety and resilience of our airport.

“We want to ensure that every passenger has a calm, relaxed and enjoyable experience at Gatwick Airport and enhancing our drone defence will help to ensure there is no repeat of last year.

“Heliguy responded quickly to our initial request for drone defence in December and pulled out all the stops to make this happen. Since then, we have worked closely with them to build part of the airport’s overall solution and they have provided wide-ranging support and expertise along the way.

"With their help, as well as others, we are now able to provide leading-edge counter-drone resilience for Gatwick Airport, our passengers and wider stakeholders.”

To find out more about how Heliguy can install drone defence at your site, contact us by or , or visit our .