From Criminology to Aviation: A Passion Turned Profession
Meet Jan Keymis, SkeyDrone’s dedicated project manager who joined the team two years ago. With a decade of professional experience under his belt, Jan decided it was time to pursue his passion for aviation—sparked during his many travels. A friend working at Brussels Airport pointed him towards a vacancy at SkeyDrone—and the rest is history.
Jan’s interest in drones started back in 2016 while travelling. Eager to capture high-quality footage of his adventures, he became an early adopter of the DJI Mavic—one of the first easily transportable drones on the market. That early curiosity laid the foundation for a deeper interest that would eventually guide his career.
Upon joining SkeyDrone, Jan was immediately thrown into the deep end: leading a pioneering drone use case project at Brussels Airport. The project involved using AI models to analyse drone footage—new territory at the time for everyone involved. Jan successfully managed the entire project from start to finish and takes great pride in the innovative results the team achieved.
Making a Societal Impact
Jan is particularly proud that his work contributes to something bigger than himself. “It’s important to me that my work has a societal impact,” he explains. “I’m proud to help shape the future of drone technology and its safe integration into everyday life.”
Jan holds a master’s degree in criminology, which surprisingly comes in handy more often than one might expect. For example, while preparing a drone surveillance mission, his knowledge of camera legislation proved instrumental in ensuring legal compliance.
Climbing High
Outside of work, Jan is an avid traveller and adrenaline enthusiast. He enjoys extreme sports such as climbing, diving and canyoning. His climbing skills are regularly put to good use during the installation of SkeyDrone’s drone detection antennas. Over the past two years, he has scaled some of Belgian’s highest buildings as part of his role.
Thanks to his hands-on experience with construction work at his own home, co-engineering and building the SkeyBoxes—which ensure reliable connectivity for the detection antennas—was a natural extension of his skills. Whether it’s climbing buildings or fine-tuning technical setups, Jan brings both precision and passion to every task.
With summer on the horizon, Jan is excited to once again lead antenna installations at high-profile events like Tomorrowland, Spa-Francorchamps and Lokerse Feesten.
Elevating Operations
Another aspect of his job he truly enjoys is operating drone missions on behalf of SkeyDrone. A recent highlight includes supporting Belgium’s first BVLOS drone flight in active airspace—a significant milestone for the industry.
When asked what he enjoys most about his job, Jan says: “It’s the variety. No two days are the same.”
Looking ahead, he hopes to see the regulatory framework for drones evolve quickly so the industry can realise its full potential. And if the past two years are anything to go by, Jan will continue to be at the forefront of making that future a reality!
Interested in more employee stories? Read the interview with Chloé here.
