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On the downside, currently, UAVs frequently arrive too late or are too disorganised from an operational, in-thefield perspective to be helpful in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Humanitarian aid organisations are addressing this issue by building local or regional networks and integrating UAVs into their regional emergency response toolkits or programs. Additionally, inadequate regulations can be a substantial hindrance to deploying drones in crises. In many countries, regulations do not exist and, where they do exist, they typically do not include conditions for humanitarian emergencies. If you want to know, the types of UAVs humanitarian organizations are currently focused on are small fixedwing and ‘multirotor’ or ‘VTOL’ (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) in supporting their operations. An example of these types of platforms that have or are used in humanitarian aid efforts are: • • • •
SenseFly, eBee-X Zipline, Zipline Matternet, M2 Selex ES (Leonardo), Falco
Implementation and Monitoring
Who provides Aerial Work aviation humanitarian air services? With more geopolitical tensions and natural disasters worldwide, this onerous duty has been put more recently in the hands of multinational organisations and aid agencies to share resources and increase global coverage. Although the reason for this is due to the limitations of civil and military government assets accessible for humanitarian aid, these organisations have in the past decade been shifting to using privately owned assets, especially for aviation, to conduct complex air missions in harsh environments while at the same time maintaining stringent civilian airworthiness requirements. Some of these types of non-government and multinational organisations that arrange and execute humanitarian air services, or the aviation companies that are sub-contracted to support such groups, are: Multi-National Organisations • United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) • United Nations Pacific Humanitarian Air Service • European Union Humanitarian Aid Flight Non-Government (NGO) Organisations • AERObridge • Air Serve • Airlink • Mercy Airlift • SARAID
Corporate Service Providers • Global Helicopter Service GmbH, Germany • Ultimate Aviation Group, South Africa • 748 Air Services Ltd, Kenya
Operational Review and Evaluation
The humanitarian aid outlook scenario for 2021 and beyond remains bleak in urban and rural settings worldwide due to a series of factors, including worsening geopolitical insecurity and a continually changing environment. With this not-so-positive analysis, the Aerial Work aviation Humanitarian Aid sector is postured to continue to intensify efforts to support people in need. Specifically, both manned and unmanned aircraft of all types with their specialised capabilities will continue to be used in transporting critical supplies and medicines, monitor catastrophic conditions, and assess damage at the right time and in the right place. Because of the aircraft’s unique capabilities, the humanitarian aid community can be more effective and efficient in its efforts. Even though the aviation sector is just one small part of a sizable global humanitarian aid community, its contribution can be massively felt within hours and days after a catastrophic incident. Besides civil governments and military units providing such service from the sky, the multi-national, NGO, and corporate aviation communities are picking up more of this service today and will do well into the future. So, the next time you read about a humanitarian catastrophe or through misfortune find yourself in a crisis, be reassured a fleet of aircraft from small UAVs to widebody jet cargo airplanes, along with their professional crews, are coming to the aid of you (and others) to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity. In other words, the Aerial Work humanitarian air service sector is genuinely the ‘Aerial Angels’ of Aviation who will be there for you now and in the future… In other words, “Don’t give up hope…someone will fly far and wide to help you!” I
All Photos © GHS - Global Helicopter Service GmbH
EUROPEAN ROTORS: CONFERENCE
The role of VTOLs for Universal Health Coverage in Africa November 16, 2021 (16:00-17:30)
WIR SPRECHEN DEUTSCH - ASTRID AYLING: +44 (0)208 549 5024 - Astrid@avbuyer.com
OCTOBER 2021 AERIAL WORK EUROPE 33
