On Wednesday 07 June 2023, the first official demonstration of the inspection system using Drones, within the framework of the European Project 5D-Aerosafe, took place at the Lavrio port facilities. The representatives of the Consortium of the project, Mr.Bogdos Georgios (Technical Director of the Consortium and CTO of the company “Future Intelligence”), Mr.GovasTasos (President of the company “Greek Water Airports”) Mr. Manolis Apostolakis (Chief Operating Officer of “Greek Water Airports “) along with Mr.PhilippeChrobocinski (Airbus Defense and Space), presented the innovation including its contribution in maximizing safety in aviation.

Those present at the event had the opportunity to witness a full waterway inspection using a drone under real conditions. Mr. George Bogdos described in detail all the steps of the supervisory process of the system which was designed to ensure the most effective method for inspection of airports, waterdromes, water fields and radio aids (Navigational Aids). The introduction of Drones provides a practical yet flexible method, time savings and cost reduction, considering the coexistence of manned and unmanned vehicles in the same area and always aiming to optimize the already high level of safety of these infrastructures.

Mr. Manolis Apostolakis then explained the current operation of waterairports and the advantages of integration of drones in the daily inspection processes, while explained the wide range of potential uses of seaplanes.

The Coordinator of the consortium and Airbus Defense and Space executive of the large systems research and development department, Mr Philippe Chrobocinski stressed the key role of Drone usage in the project’s evolution, outlined the advantages and reliability of the system and pointed out that Eurocontrol, which is involved as a consultant and observer in the project, can make a positive contribution to the legislative barriers that still exist in Europe.

Mr Tasos Govas, President of “Greek Water Airports “as the first company active in the operation of water airports and an active partner and the main end-user of the 5D-AeroSafe project, focused on maximizing the safety of seaplane landing and take-off and the efficient operation of waterways by using cutting edge technologies in the field of waterairports facilities and area monitoring. At the same time, he emphasized the benefits to tourism, society and development which the operation of waterairports/seaplanes have the potential to bring to Greece, highlighting that the licensing of additional waterairports is required in order to ensure a sufficient volume of flight to start the routes.

The consortium works closely with the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA), represented throughout the event by Mr. Konstantinos Diamantakos, Head of General Aviation & Drones Department. The HCAA is responsible for establishing the necessary regulatory procedures to ensure all prerequisites for the proper execution of the project’s pilot applications and initiates a series of initiatives to collaborate with EASA in creating the required legislative and regulatory framework.

The event was attended by Vasilios Oikonomou, Member of Parliament (ND), Mr. Dimitris Loukas, Mayor of Lavrio, Mrs. Ioanna Koulouvraki, President of Lavrio Port Authority SA, Mr. Georgios Vakondios, CEO of Lavrio Port Authority SA, representatives of relevant Ministries, local government and port authorities.

For updates on the progress of the project, please visit the project website

https://5d-aerosafe.eu/ and follow our social media.