AERIAL SPECTACULARS
THE SKY’ S THE LIMIT
Aerial spectaculars, encompassing drones and other forms of state-of-the-art technology, are becoming increasingly popular and profitable. Max Steventon explores the latest developments in this swiftly evolving element of the industry. A treble clef flies high at AeroAVA’ s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo spectacle
Whether used for a grand finale at a major sports or live music event, or to light up city skies for cultural celebrations, drone shows have become a popular alternative to more traditional firework displays.
Drone light shows typically involve coordinating fleets of small, GPS-guided unmanned aerial vehicles( UAVs) fitted with LED lighting systems. Each drone follows a programmed flight path to form shapes or animated sequences, with shows ranging from a few dozen drones to several thousand depending on the event. Operations require licensed pilots, airspace approval, weather assessments and designated take-off and landing zones.
AeroAVA is a well-established provider of choreographed drone shows for major outdoor events including the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
AeroAVA managing director Tom Rees says the complexity and scale of the drone shows can vary widely:“ Smaller events might use around 100 drones, while major city-wide shows can run into the thousands, all flying pre-mapped routes with strict safety margins.”
The dramatic growth of the drone show market has been highlighted by the likes of Grand View Research, which valued the sector at $ 1.56 billion(£ 1.19bn) last year, and predicts it will reach $ 6.11bn(£ 4.57bn) by 2033.
Key to the increasing complexity and popularity of aerial shows in recent years is the innovative technology
Tom Rees
that powers them. With the rise of AI, precision navigation systems, advanced connectivity, and the latest image-mapping and LED technology, aerial displays are using state-of-
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