Scandinavian Drone Solutions delivers comprehensive, adaptable, and cross-disciplinary solutions for projects of any scale. As a leading full-service provider, they offer expert consultancy on drone solutions, training, specialized risk analysis, and regulatory authorizations.
Interview with Ulrik Rasmussen, CEO of Scandinavian Drone Solutions.
How was 2024 for your business, a short summary?
Ulrik Rasmussen: Scandinavian Drone Solutions had a very good year in 2024. Turnover more than quadrupled versus 2023, and many new projects were undertaken. We made the first strides on development of a light U-space app, and we expanded on the use of our LUC (Light UAS operator Certificate).
We have been working a lot on getting a setup ready for pre-audit consulting, which we have discussed with CAA’s, and also are advising the CAA’s on their audit procedures.
What products/services did you launch this year?
U.R: SDS has launched a more systematic utilization of our LUC, which helps companies fly in weeks instead of months, as SDS can approve flights on behalf of the CAA. This works across all of Europe, if the local CAA uphold the EASA rules.
We have launched a service where we do a pre-audit for companies, i.e. we check that they are in compliance with the regulations from the CAA. This will secure against having the operation halted or disrupted, when the CAA comes for an audit. Most companies are not 100% in congruence with what they have promised in their paperwork on SORA’s etc. Especially the documentation of the flights, and how they were conducted are often missing. SDS has expertise in this area because of the LUC, and also because we help some CAA’s setting up their audit procedures.
We have not launched our software for automated SORA creation yet, however we are far in the process, and we expect to launch in the beginning of 2025.
How did the market change, compared to previous years?
U.R: The market has been positive, and as a result of the phasing out of the old transitory rules for drone flight, more and more companies are looking for help, and thus rendering our services.
More focus on auditing companies in the specific category from the CAA’s around Europe has also helped reduce the companies that fly illegally, which then is also in need of the compliance expertise of SDS.
What are the new challenges in your field of activity?
U.R: The first and foremost challenge is companies flying illegally. Especially companies flying missions that belong in the specific category, but flying as if they were in the open category. I.e. without proper authorization from the Civil Aviation Authorities.
Our services are directed at helping companies with the hassle of compliance, and shortening the time from plan to flight from months down to weeks. However, if people fly illegally their time to flight is zero days. Most of these companies do not realize the problem with this approach both in regards to heavy penalties from the government, and also insurance not covering and the like – it can become a very expensive shortcut.
How did you overcome these challenges in this more competitive environment?
U.R: We advise and inform companies about compliance, and why it is both important and the most cost-effective way to do business in the long run. In addition, most companies want to be decent and follow the rules and regulations.
Tell us about product innovation and how will it impact the future.
U.R: The product we feel will have the largest impact is the software for automated SORAs.
This software will make the application process easy for companies wanting to fly following the rules. The software will guide the user through a series of areas in the application, and then make a draft to submit to the CAA.
How will product innovation help the customers?
U.R: Drones has multiple possibilities for utilization, as drones can be manufactured in any size and thereby used almost everywhere. The hardware and software integrations are getting, better and better, thereby allowing more precise utilization of drones. In addition, further applications using combinations of methods already available can be planned.
Our expectation is that our software for automation of SORAs will reduce the price significantly on the applications for more simple drone operations, but it will also save time for our internal manual consultancy – thus also lowering the price-tag for more complex operations.
What are the industry trends in the markets you are currently active?
U.R: In addition to the areas mentioned above, AI is being implemented into drones to help everything from mapping to identify certain items or patterns. This greatly increases the use cases.
What do you think the trends will be next year?
U.R: Our expectation for the market development in 2025 is that most CAA’s in Europe will have their audit programs in place, and thus there will be an augmented need for help in ensuring compliance with the rules.
Most CAA’s have only sporadically sanctioned illegal flights, which is something that is also being worked on across Europe.
In SDS we are trying to help the authorities follow up and secure compliance, but in a way that is flexible and does not hurt those who have used their best effort in following the rules. We see the possibility for enforcing safety and order without a large bureaucratic administration.
What is the outlook for 2025?
U.R: SDS envision a good growth in the drone industry. Most technical solutions for drones both hardware and software are in place for nearly all really complex drone missions. However, what has been lacking behind is the governments in Europe not inventing their own laws, but adhering to what EASA has set forth. Also, an alignment in the rules, as would be the result of following EASA, is needed.
All of this has sped up during 2024, and we foresee that the CAA’s of Europe will take great strides towards solving these legal challenges during 2025. And this will be a growth generator for the drone industry.