Boeing has been using Odense Airport in Denmark for test flights of small unmanned aircraft. The tests involved designing new technologies to make unmanned aircraft able to fly more predictably and efficiently.
Boeing chose Odense for its test flights, because there is plenty of capacity at the airport and place in the airspace around manned airports, which otherwise may be difficult to find elsewhere in Europe.
“Through the relationships we have built with the city of Odense and Odense Airport, we created a framework where Boeing would perform experiments that support the company’s research and development goals.” says Vice President of Strategy & Business Capture for Boeing Defense, Space & Security Tom Bell.
Chairman of the Board of Odense Airport, Jorgen Clausen, welcomes the test flights:
“Right here and now means test flights are not a whole lot, but in the longer term it may prove to Odense Airport has brought in a very advantageous position, because the market for pilotless aircraft for civilian purposes is huge growth market.”
[Thanks to Patricia Trigueros for the translation – Ed.]
Source: TV2fyn