In the context of this survey, “Drone Operator” should be understood as a company or organisation (non-governmental or governmental) conducting, or planning to conduct, commercial or non-commercial flight operations with drones.
Commercial Operations:
Flights carried out by companies for paying customers (incl. Flight Schools and Test & Demonstration Site Management organisations).
Non-Commercial Operations:
Flights carried out by companies or organisations without external financial compensation from a customer. Non-commercial operations include “Corporate Operations”, which should be understood as: “Flights carried out by companies or organisations to meet their own internal requirements”.
Types of Drone Operators:
- Corporate Entity – Drone Manufacturer & Operator;
- Corporate Entity – Drone Operator;
- Corporate Entity – Flight School;
- Corporate Entity – Research;
- Corporate Entity – Test & Demonstration Site Management;
- Corporate Entity – U-Space Service Provider;
- Governmental Entity – Drone Operator (non-military; including fire civil defence, coast guard, customs authorities, emergency services, police, environmental & infrastructure maintenance agencies, fire brigades);
- Governmental Entity – Research;
- Academia / University;
- Non-governmental organisation (NGO) (e.g. Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, environmental protection groups).
