The first covered Aerodron is located in Spain

Just over 10 kilometers from Adolfo Suárez-Madrid Barajas Airport is the first Spanish covered Aerodron “and perhaps in the world,” says César de la Macorra, one of the parents of this infrastructure. Hidden behind the industrial ships of Alcobendas (Madrid), the facilities of César de la Macorra and David Cerrato appear. They both participate in two things: family ties and taste for drones.

“We had this ship without activity of the crisis and we saw the chance to play with our teams,” he explains about the Macorra. The start of the idea goes back to 2014. “We wanted to try our drones and according to the legislation you couldn’t,” adds Cerrato.

Spanish legislation is clear: it is forbidden to fly drones in urban areas, agglomerations of people and areas near airports. So the only way they have found uncle and cousin is to allow his old industrial ship. All this had a year. “We have placed the grass, we have hung the security networks and we have even made our own ‘software’. All of them,” says Cerrato. The entrance to the Aerodronomo is the summary of the start of this project. “We are the example of ‘do it yourself’, says De La Macorra.

Thanks to their training (both are engineers) they have succeeded in building the four tracks of the Aerodronomo, the obstacles and “also the” software “that gives life to the missions that one can enjoy.” A computer work through “open source”. “Our goal is that people come here, try to learn. But this technology is also intended for a company to apply and give flight courses for drone pilots,” they add.

The ship has four small pilot tracks, four control stables where users “can fly their drones or use them available.” In addition to each flying space, you can select a maximum of nine types of missions with four independent computers to implement the skills of the pilot. A click and the stopwatch starts to count. “You can try to improve your record or just practice.” Although the most important challenge is from the start to lift the drone of the starting table.

As soon as the flight starts, the difficulty of the test is determined by the chosen mission. Nine doors spread in zigzag to complete the work. “Every obstacle is designed to register the passage of each drone,” he says in detail of the Macorra.

Thanks to their knowledge of engineering, uncle and cousin, they have been able to cancel their obstacle field and with ‘transponders’ (devices collect the passage of the drone) that are made in their small workshop, succeed in registering the times of their customers. Little more than 30 seconds to demonstrate your power and to overcome the brands that have been determined by other users. “It will surprise you, but the plate is a 13 -year -old girl.” A counter -reloj fight and also against the checks of the plane. “The power depends on every person and not on age,” the Macorra explains.

Earlier

Before you continue with instructions for skills, earlier learning and fame are needed with the ships that go to the pilot. “It’s not a toy,” they remember again. In its specific garage you will find different types of drones, from the simplest to pilot – it functions with an autopilot – to an airplane that reaches 100 kilometers per hour in just under three seconds. “Although this is only for freely experienced people,” says Cerrato.

For 10 euros the user has 20 minutes of experience to fight the stopwatch and for 5 “you can enjoy a match with your friends.” “Unfortunately, the activity still does not give to maintain all infrastructure; it gives no benefits,” the founders are allowed on it.

Educational work

In addition to the free time that can be enjoyed in this small center, the owners also offer educational work for the sector. Santa Claus and the Wise have left a drone in many houses this Christmas, “but we have to take into account that this is not a toy,” says David Cerrato.

“We bet in this respect on a good educational work, both for use and security,” he says. To do this, with some periodicity, the 520 square meter ship organizes in a seminar room to train drone -pilot fans.

“It is not only an educational work, we also advise on the purchase of devices, because then not all ideals are. But then the calls are when they have already committed” crime “and nothing can be done, just dismissal,” Cerrato jokes.