Webinar offshore drone flights

The Ecowende webinar on a major milestone in offshore wind and Dutch aviation took place on 10 March 2026, as a livestream of the simultaneous event held at Den Helder Airport. During this webinar, we shared insights into the first offshore Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone flight beyond the 12-nautical-mile zone. The flight was recently conducted from Den Helder Airport to the Ecowende wind farm site, located 53 kilometres off the coast of IJmuiden.

This pioneering operation demonstrates how unmanned aviation can fundamentally transform offshore (ecological) monitoring and inspection. By replacing manned aircraft with drone technology, significant CO₂ reductions can be achieved while simultaneously improving safety, data quality, and operational efficiency. The mission also represents an important step in the development of the regulatory and operational frameworks required for offshore BVLOS operations in public airspace.

Together with industry partners, aviation authorities, and policymakers, we discussed the key insights, lessons learned, and future perspectives on how offshore drone flights can contribute to the responsible and sustainable growth of offshore activities.

Did you miss the webinar or would you like to watch it again? The recording is now available.