Ian Sheppard has acted as Editor International Show Editions for AIN since June 2013. Based in the Redhill, England, Ian reports for the various AIN publications as well as providing support to International Editor Charles Alcock in covering international air shows (such as Farnborough, Paris, Singapore and Dubai), and the EBACE and MEBA business aviation events. His central role is to cover Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Prior to becoming more involved with AIN in mid-2011 (initially as deputy international editor), Ian worked for various aviation publications through his company, First Aerospace Media. This included being part of the AIN team covering daily news at international air shows.
Ian has worked for publications such as Flight International (technical reporter, 1997-8) and Aerospace International (editor, 1999-2000). He was publications manager at Airclaims (Ascend) between 2000 and 2004 before forming First Aerospace Media. Since mid-2009 Ian has also been managing editor of Regional International, the journal of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).
Ian hasis working towards a European commercial pilot licence, having held an FAA private pilot license in 1991, and instructor rating. He also has a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Bath, England, and a graduate diploma in law from Kingston University, and is a graduate of the legal practice course (College of Law, Guildford).

Editor

Ian Sheppard

Two UK airports have joined to create a “National Aeronautical Center” (NAC) to develop, test and demonstrate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). West Wales Airport at Aberporth and Newquay Cornwall Airport in southwest England will jointly offer their facilities and runways, along with access to offshore testing areas, to UAS developers. The partners officially launched the center at the Royal Society in London on September 9.


West Wales Airport (WWA) has operated UAS beyond visual line of sight since 2004 under authorization from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. Speaking at the launch event, Ray Mann, WWA managing director, said the pairing with Newquay Cornwall Airport enhances the resources available for training and testing of both civil and military UAS. Newquay has a 10,000-foot runway, compared to WWA’s 4,000 feet, and access to 3,000 square miles of offshore test airspace, bringing total available airspace to 5,000 square miles. The NAC provides the capability to test “anything developed by the aerospace industry over the next 20 years,” he said.


Richard Deakin, CEO of air navigation service provider NATS, said authorities are planning for operations of the Thales Watchkeeper UAS in controlled airspace, which would be “a world first.” The European Union’s Single European Sky ATM Research (Sesar) program is funding the effort, which could lead to Watchkeeper flights next summer following simulations outside controlled airspace in April. The Watchkeeper, under development for the British Army, has flown for four years at WWA, accumulating more than 300 flights. Selex ES has also used the facility for its Falco UAS, Mann said.

UK Inaugurates National UAS Test Center

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN