Drone Technology Experts Form Task Group to Establish Drone Show Safety Standards

A new task group has been formed by ASTM International a specialist in the development and delivery of voluntary consensus standards, to create safety standards for drone show operations, focusing on technical requirements, procedures, and risk management. Chaired by Nils Thorjussen, executive chairman and co-founder of of Verge Aero, the group invites broad industry participation to support the growth of the emerging drone show sector. The task group has the support and participation of the FAA.

A statement announcing the formation of the task group says, "Drone shows have come a long way in just a few years. Pioneering work undertaken in laboratories has led to the creation of technologies to deploy massive, record-setting shows worldwide. But not all systems are created equally, with significant differences in sophistication and safety features. Likewise, some operators are far more professional and detail-oriented than others. Intense price competition in the market has made many people focus on cost and not safety."

The task group is open to all interested parties, and broad industry participation is encouraged to help the nascent drone show industry mature and thrive.

Many people have reached out to Verge Aero seeking to understand how drone shows work, what increases risk, and how to make them safer. In response, the company has recently released The Essential Guide to Drone Show Safety to help educate the public and stakeholders. It identifies five essential components to show safety: navigation redundancy, appropriate and up-to-date software, multiple and independent geofence systems, reliable long-range communication, and training and safety management. The white paper is available for viewing or downloading on Verge Aero's website.

Verge Aero is calling on the industry to work with ASTM and other standards organizations to implement robust safety standards for drone show systems. Interested parties should contact the company at standards@vergeaero.com for further information.