Several actors within society gathered to discuss how the upcoming drone airport in Skellefteå can create value for companies, municipalities and residents.
- There are no bad ideas here. The purpose of the day is to raise the issues of how a drone airport can be used in the short and long term and which services the market wants, says Henrik Littorin, Program Manager at ELIS.
The participants at the workshop came from different areas within business, the municipality and other interest organizations including the drone company Katla. Examples of proposals were everything from using the drones for sensor missions, delivering reserve power, as well as various types of time-critical transport.
- We see a drone airport as a small piece of the puzzle in the large logistics system. For us, it is very important to get this feedback from various representatives in society, which allows us to push the development further, says Henrik Littorin.
It is no coincidence that the drone airport is being built in Skellefteå because here there are opportunities to carry out tests in a cold and harsh climate, the airspace is relatively empty and there are transport challenges linked to the fact that a large part of the population lives in sparsely populated areas.
- It takes courage from Skellefteå and other actors in society who see that this can be part of the future. Our goal is to have an initial operation in place as early as next year, says Henrik Littorin.
Building a large urban droneport in a subarctic climate is an innovative project with no direct templates or guidelines. After extensive planning, the site is now paved and the buildings are in place, but some work remains before one of Europe’s largest urban drone airports can be inaugurated.
The take-off and landing area and surrounding areas have now been paved with materials that significantly reduce climate impact. By using Asfalt Zero – a climate-smart asphalt made with pine oil – Skellefteå is setting an example for environmentally friendly infrastructure.
It started with an idea on a post-it note two years ago, and by the end of this year, the idea will become a reality. Skellefteå Droneport is one of the first droneports in Europe being built in an urban environment. The Droneport will be a physical space for development, research, education, and commercialization of drone-related solutions.