It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Robird!
Drone technology takes flight at Edmonton International Airport
The latest line of defence in keeping wildlife from flight paths atthe Edmonton International Airport is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) called a robird.
Painted to look like a female falcon, the robotic birdswoops inwith wings flapping up and down.
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Looking from anairplane window travelling overEdmonton, a passenger might not even notice the difference.
"I would challenge them to tell me if it is a robird or a real bird," said AeriumAnalyticspilot Justin Quesnel.
AeriumAnalytics, a Calgary-based company whichis working with Clear Flight Solutions out of the Netherlands, demonstratedthe new UAV technology Monday at the Edmonton International Airport.
The robirdsare a pilot project that will take flight inJuly and continue intothe fall.
The droneswill be part of the existing wildlife managementsystem that includes habitat relocation, pyrotechnics and a live falcon that is brought in to assist in keeping the airport runways safe.
"It's definitely cutting edge," said Jul Wojnowski,a wildlife specialist with the airport.
It will also be watched closely by NAV Canada and Transport Canada as drone technology is strictly regulated in Canada.
All drones must fly in line of sight and have two operators, a pilot and observer on hand.
AeriumAnalytics sees the robirds as a foot-in-the-door for drone technologyin Alberta. The company uses drones for surveying, planning and inspecting workplace sectors like mining, forestry, agriculture as well as the oil and gas industry.
It started with a single UAV pilot and now see a future where they will need eightto 10 pilots very quickly.
"Every month there is a new technology, a new advancement, there is a new sensor," said managing director JordanCicoria.
Aerium Analyticshas joinedthe consortium of companies in theAlberta Aerospace and Technology Centre (AATC) at Edmonton International Airport.