The Zephyr is a high-altitude platform that can stay in flight for over 30 days, providing earth observation and communication services to remote areas.
- Airbus has chosen Kenya’s Laikipia area as the first operating hub for the Zephyr platform due to factors like open space for landing and launching, favorable weather conditions, and a relatively light airspace.
- The drone base will include landing pads, an assembly line, an operations/control center, and a customer care facility. It is expected to have a production capacity of 50 to 100 aircraft.
- Kenya offers skilled labor and favorable time zones for operating the base’s facilities. The country’s language capabilities also support the establishment of a customer care center to serve global customers.
- Mobile service operators such as Safaricom, Airtel Kenya, and Telkom Kenya are likely to be major users of the drone platform for extending coverage to remote areas at a lower cost. The platform can also be used for border patrol, weather tracking, and mapping purposes.
- AALTO plans to establish up to five operating bases worldwide, strategically located to ensure year-round drone operations. The bases will be spread across Asia, Africa, and South America.
- AALTO’s senior managers visited Kenya to seek regulatory approvals for the drone base and plan to conduct further test flights in the country before a commercial launch.