Altitude Angel Named Lead UTM Provider for African Drone Forum

London, UK:  Altitude Angel, the industry-leading UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) technology provider, has been chosen as the lead and ‘umbrella’ UTM provider for the African Drone Forum and Lake Kivu Challenge 2020, which will take place in February 2020 on the shores of Lake Kivu, Rwanda.

The 2020 African Drone Forum comprises a symposium, expo, business plan competition and a series of automated drone flying competitions which are designed to showcase how emerging technology can improve the lives of people in hard-to-reach rural communities.

It is a multi-stakeholder initiative supported by the World Bank, UK Department for International Development (DFID)/UK Aid, World Economic Forum, World Food Programme, UNICEF, Danida and other partners in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda. The symposium and expo will be taking place in Kigali from February 5 to 7, 2020, with competitive flights commencing on February 8, 2020.

The Lake Kivu Challenge flying competitions are designed to illustrate the real-world applications of airspace management, delivery and autonomous flight.

Altitude Angel’s role will be as the foundational UTM Service Provider (SP) for the African Drone Forum and Lake Kivu Challenge 2020, providing the FIMS (Flight Information Management System). During the Challenge, all other UTM SPs, UAS manufactures and developers will interface with Altitude Angel’s UTM system ensuring all operations can be monitored and tracked for regional ATC, safely integrating flights into local airspace. In doing so, the Challenge will demonstrate the full capability of drones to enhance humanitarian and commercial operations.

Rwanda’s Lake Kivu region has been specially selected for this symposium, as it presents logistical challenges which unmanned aerial vehicles are uniquely positioned to address. The region is densely populated and located around an expanse of water, surrounded by hilly conditions which are notoriously difficult to traverse with conventional land vehicles.

On being selected as the lead UTM provider for the Lake Kivu Challenge 2020, Richard Parker, Altitude Angel, CEO and founder, said: “The potential for drones to be used to transform lives and revolutionise businesses across all of Africa is immense. The continent has a unique opportunity to embrace a new technology and bring about fundamental, positive change to all.  The African Drone Forum Lake Kivu Challenge 2020 will showcase this potential and we’re thrilled to be part of this important project.” 

Jonty Slater from IMC Worldwide, supporting the Lake Kivu Challenge 2020, added: “As the industry-leading UTM provider, we couldn’t be happier having Altitude Angel on board. The company has time and again demonstrated its credentials and this challenge has attracted the world’s best-in-class across all the technology providers who will be taking part. I’m very much looking forward to getting out to Rwanda and seeing the technology put through its paces!”