Amsterdam-based Avy, a startup that is on a mission to develop life-saving aircraft, has won the AFAS Young Business Award 2023, securing not only the Crystal award but also the coveted title of ‘Best Young Company in the Netherlands’.
CEO Patrique Zaman steered Avy to victory over finalists Naduvi, Reliving, and tex.tracer.
Avy’s self-flying drone aircraft, designed for critical tasks like delivering urgent medicines and aiding in disaster response, played a pivotal role in their success. The company aspires to be the ‘Airbus of the drone industry’, with a modular, high-tech drone controlled from their Amsterdam exchange.
Patrique Zaman says, “It is my dream to make the aviation industry innovatively more sustainable with autonomous and emission-free drone flights.”
“To ensure that we can save more lives on a daily basis, that when you call 112, help is always nearby, regardless of location or accessibility. This award is a great reward for the team after all these years of hard work.”
Developing life-saving aircraft
Founded in 2016 by CEO Patrique Zaman, Avy claims to be one of the first to be able to operate long-distance flights without pilots being present on-site. It specialises in autonomously flying VTOL drones and Aerial Drone Networks, empowering organisations for deployment in designated areas.
With automatic incident response capabilities, the startup holds permits for flying in European airspace and populated regions.
Avy reports it is the sole Dutch organisation with the Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC) in the ‘Specific’ category, enabling it to perform self-authorising Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights in Europe.
The drones serve critical purposes, including the transportation of urgent medical supplies, locating missing persons, tracing drowning individuals, and providing assistance during incidents and disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and wildfires.
Avy’s technology includes a uniquely designed drone, a docking station for charging and standby, and a software suite. The Avy Aera combines the features of a conventional drone and an airplane, allowing for efficient flying over longer distances at higher speeds.
Avy’s Aera 4 drone
The Aera 4, Avy’s latest self-flying drone, aims to revolutionise emergency response in Europe. With wings enabling 10 times the range of typical drones, it addresses challenges in meeting the 7-minute arrival time.
The drone is equipped with infrared and RGB cameras that serve various purposes such as rapidly identifying wildfires, locating people in distress at sea, detecting oil leaks, and assessing accidents.
The drone’s functionality extends to medical emergencies by including a Medkit—a specialised medical refrigerator—for transporting critical medicines like donor blood.
This dual-purpose design enhances Avy Aera’s utility in both emergency response and medical transport scenarios.
The drone is fully weatherproof, capable of flying in heavy rain and winds up to 7bft. With an 8-litre (3 kg) carrying capacity, it achieves speeds over 125 km/h and covers distances up to 100 kilometres.
Avy’s mission is to support Aerial Drone Networks and aid emergency services globally in combating incidents and disasters efficiently.
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