ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.--Robotic Skies announced that it will sponsor a general session, From Drone-Aware to Drone-Savvy: Maintenance Opportunities for Commercial Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), at the 2014 Aircraft Electronics Association's (AEA) 57th International Convention & Trade Show in Nashville, Tenn. Robotic Skies president & CEO, Brad Hayden, will talk about maintenance opportunities for AEA avionics repair stations to service the commercial drone fleet as it enters the national airspace. He will also moderate a panel discussion of drone industry experts, followed by a Q&A session for attending AEA members. The general session takes place on Friday, March 14 at 9:30 a.m. CDT at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in the Presidential Ballroom, and is open to registered convention attendees.
"We need to educate ourselves as an industry about the mission profiles and maintenance requirements of this new breed of aircraft, so that we'll be prepared to service drone customers when the technology and regulatory hurdles that are keeping them from flying in our airspace are overcome," said Hayden. "The AEA is showing extraordinary foresight and vision in preparing its members early on for this future market segment."
The event includes speakers who are actively participating in the development of the drone certification and maintenance standards, as well as unmanned airframe manufacturers who are making the transition from military to civilian markets. In addition to Hayden, other speakers include Mark Blanks, UAS program manager with Kansas State University; Dallas Brooks, UASONE and AUVSI board member; and Eric Folkestad, application engineer at Arcturus UAV.
"Furthering the education of our members and influencing the applicable legislative and regulatory processes are inherent in the AEA's mission to secure the future for our industry," said Mike Adamson, AEA's vice president of member programs and education. "We are exploring these exciting opportunities in emerging technologies - specifically the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and NextGen market spaces - to keep in step with our mission, and provide members a glimpse of what the future may hold."
One lucky session attendee will win a ready-to-fly remote controlled drone. Jointly donated by the AEA and Robotic Skies, the DJI Phantom quad copter is easy-to-fly with little or no RC experience, includes a GoPro camera mount for taking aerial videos and has a "return to land" failsafe mode in case of transmission loss.
More information regarding the general session event, From Drone-Aware to Drone-Savvy, can be found on the AEA website at http://aea.net/convention/2014/Regulatory.asp?panel=1#Drone.
About Aircraft Electronics Association
Founded in 1957, the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) represents more than 1,300 aviation businesses, including repair stations that specialize in maintenance, repair and installation of avionics and electronic systems in general aviation aircraft.
AEA membership also includes instruments facilities, manufacturers of avionics equipment, instrument manufacturers, airframe manufacturers, test equipment manufacturers, major distributors, and educational institutions.
About Robotic Skies
Robotic Skies is a network of service centers that are optimized to provide certification and maintenance services for the emerging commercial drone fleet.
Drawing on a nationwide partner network of FAA-certified repair stations that currently maintain the manned aviation fleet, Robotic Skies offers a comprehensive turnkey field service program guaranteed to keep drones flying safely - and affordably.
Brad Hayden, President & CEO
In addition to founding and running Robotic Skies, Brad is the publisher of Droneport, a site dedicated to facilitating the integration of commercial drones and the established aviation community. Brad also serves as President of Kings Avionics, the aircraft electronics sales and service company his father started in 1969.
A certified private pilot, and an avid First Person View drone pilot, Brad believes that the future of aviation lies in embracing and supporting emerging technologies, like drone aircraft, into the mainstream of the civilian aerospace industry.
