With 2015 tipped as a key year for the commercial UAV industry, new software, tech, businesses and regulations are all expected to enter the market. One such business is German start-up company Caballero & Hesselbarth Consulting, and they are certainly one to watch.
Caballero & Hesselbarth Consulting was founded by two former army officers and Forward Air Controllers, who used to integrate UAVs into permissive and non-permissive environments in theatres like Afghanistan. They are now utilizing their international expertise to help integrate UAVs into the commercial sector.
Caballero & Hesselbarth Consulting is founded upon a unique vision which believes Europe has the potential to become a leader within the commercial UAV industry. Co-founder Jan Hesselbarth has commented ‘our vision is that UAS will be the disruptive technology which is similar to the cell phone’. In-line with achieving this vision Caballero & Hesselbarth offer consulting in 3 major areas: integration, education and certification. The duo have proficient knowledge in all of these areas and are able to work as everything from project managers to interim-managers for UAV projects.
Services available include integrating existing UAS products into current industry projects, advising the industry as to the most beneficial UAS products for a certain objective, and educating clients in safety awareness. The former army officers hope to produce an innovative and effective environment for UAS usage, and are eager to explore new areas for UAV application. Caballero & Hesselbarth Consulting’s independent stance also enables a much-needed impartial and proficient view on existing systems and products. The founders are also eager to encourage safe and best practice for UAV usage, with an educational product for private and commercial pilots and integrators also on the to-do-list.
Regulation has been a key cause for concern for the UAV industry in recent months. However Caballero & Hesselbarth are eager to tackle this issue as well, calling for an innovative regulation for UAVs in order for society to reap the benefits in a safe and secure manner. Jan commented ‘we need a regulation for UAS detached from manned aviation’, emphasising that UAS integration requires ‘a responsible educational concept’. Jan has also noted that to date ‘existing regulations do not represent a deep and reflected involvement’ and that ‘the major problem of the UAS industry is that nobody can tell for sure if and when there will be a consistent way of regulations in the future and if the regulations of the future will be an advantage for all’. Caballero & Hesselbarth Consulting hope to make a substantial contribution to rectifying this problem.
Currently focussing their efforts in Germany, the pair aim to develop a UAS Management System for the country and are working toward the standardization within the DIN e.V. (German Institute for Standardisation). Of the current status of UAVs in Germany, Jan has said ‘we have a lack of standardization and certification as well as a lack of education in the industry concerning safety, innovative integration, efficient handling and development’. He has also noted a lack of awareness in Germany regarding the uses of UASs outside of the military arena. The founders aim to use their dense and proficient network across the German economy and government to rectify such problems.
Of the future of the UAV industry Jan explained ‘We will be able to work more efficiently, faster and more precise in future. We are able to help people or animals in totally different ways. We will be able to prevent catastrophes and accidents or at least we will be able to help to reduce to the effects of those incidents. UAS will be able to gain security and safety aspects and will save money while gaining a situational awareness. UAS will provide detailed and actual information for everyone needing an overview or a specific information including consistencies of different materials. UAS will be fast enablers in delivering, relaying and inspecting’. In short ‘UAS’s will change the existing world’ and with organisations such as Caballero & Hesselbarth Consulting driving the industry forward it seems clear that UAVs are set to become a key part of the commercial landscape.
To hear more from Caballero & Hesselbarth Consulting visit them at SkyTech 2015, UAV Conference and Exhibition, taking place on 24th April 2015 at the Business Design Centre or visit their website at http://www.chcon.de/
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