From Developer to Drone Enthusiast
Meet Benoît Salpéteur, our talented application engineer who is a skilled drone pilot in his free time.
Early Days at SkeyDrone
Benoît joined SkeyDrone in January 2021 as a back-end developer. His passion for flying drones sparked his interest in the company’s work. Within just three months, he was already involved in a critical project at a major airport, laying the foundations for what would become SkeyDrone’s flagship drone detection solution. Benoît and his colleagues were tasked with demonstrating the ability to detect drones and track them on a computer screen, using radar technology and the remote ID. “It was very exciting to be part of such an innovative project”, recalls Benoît. “We worked from an impressive meeting room at the airport during the COVID period. It was quite surreal as the airport was closed, and with no airplanes some days, drones were allowed to fly over the airport for us to test the application.”
Becoming a Certified Drone Pilot
In 2022, Benoît became a certified drone pilot, which immediately led to new responsibilities at SkeyDrone. “I had to fly lots of different drones at DronePort Sint-Truiden to test and debug the first drone detection antennas. That was really fun”, he remembers. “I also operated drones during our first drone detection demo for the Police of Rupel as they were looking for a solution to secure the airspace above Tomorrowland.”
Outside of work, Benoît loves travelling with his wife and their twin daughters. He bought his first drone in 2016, using it during a trip to Lisbon to capture stunning aerial shots of the cityscape – a practice he has continued on subsequent vacations. His photographic interests lean towards capturing scenic landscapes. Benoît has kindly shared some of his holiday pictures from Lisbon, La Réunion, Madeira, Corsica and Sicily.
Navigating Drone Regulations
As a certified drone pilot and SkeyDrone employee, Benoît is fully aware of the obligation to check geozones and request flight authorisation before piloting his drone. He recalls that the first time he requested authorisation to fly his drone above Lisbon, it was still in paper form, whereas now the process has been digitized. According to Benoît, the Portuguese application is quite similar to skeyes’ Drone and Aerial Activities application, which his team built. However, he points out one major difference: “While it’s relatively easy to get flight authorisation in Lisbon, you need special permission from the higher authorities to take aerial pictures above the city. My permit was signed by the Major General of the Army of Lisbon from his desk.”
Through his hobby, Benoît has had the chance to compare many drone authorisation tools: “It’s really interesting to see how strict different countries are and the various procedures they use. In some countries, you don’t even need a flight authorisation, but while you’re flying, you might get checked by the police on the ground.”
The Future of Drone Operations
Flying drones both as an amateur and a professional has highlighted a significant difference for Benoît: “From a legal perspective, professional drone pilots need to pass a lot of hurdles to conduct drone operations. Meanwhile, amateurs also have strict guidelines, but they often don’t follow them and don’t face consequences. I hope that SkeyDrone’s solutions can help ensure that all drone pilots comply with the rules. I see a lot of opportunities for drones in the future, and I think we are at the verge of a new era”, he concludes.
We share your optimism, Benoît, and wish you continued success at SkeyDrone and many more beautiful photographs! Interested in more employee stories? Read the interview with SkeyDrone’s founding team here.
