Celebrating 10 Years of the BCN Drone Center
June 21, 2024
This year, 2024, marks a special milestone for us: the 10th anniversary of our test site inauguration.
The story began back in 2012, when we started noticing clear signs of an industry shift. Low-cost, mass-market drones were becoming a reality thanks to emerging Chinese manufacturers. At the same time, open-source autopilots were evolving into reliable and fully functional solutions. It was easy to forecast what would come next: a rapid increase in drone operations, followed by the introduction of stricter regulations.
At that time, we were carrying out our activities inside a manned aerodrome. While this was functional, it also brought limitations: we constantly had to coordinate with manned flights, rarely had flight priority, and suffered frequent delays in our testing and development processes.
It was clear, we needed a dedicated space for drones. Our vision was to create:
A safe and controlled environment to test and validate technology.
An exclusive aerodrome for drones, free from other manned or unmanned airspace users.
From Vision to Reality
After two years of hard work, that idea became reality:
We secured proprietary land in a sparsely populated area, just one hour from Barcelona’s tech hub and international airport.
We obtained special permissions to build unique, purpose-designed facilities.
We achieved administrative control of segregated airspace, ensuring the lowest possible risk both in the air and on the ground.
In 2014, we proudly inaugurated one of the world’s first UAS-dedicated test sites, and still one of the few of its kind today. Its value was proven immediately: during Spain’s nationwide drone ban in 2014, our facilities remained operational, allowing us to continue flying legally.
A Celebration to Remember
To mark this 10-year milestone, we hosted a celebration with our clients and partners right here at our facilities. We shared memories of past projects, enjoyed live music, and served our signature BDC cocktail, a unique blend of Brandy, Dates, and Cava (Catalonia’s sparkling wine).
If you missed it, don’t worry, there’s more to come! Next year, we’ll be celebrating the 25th anniversary of our company’s foundation, and we promise there will be plenty of reasons to raise a glass again.
