Remote Operation Center at DronePort

Earlier this year Citymesh had already made headlines by installing a fully operational docking station at DronePort, its very first DIAB system on an active airport. Since this month DronePort has also become home to one of Citymesh’s three Remote Operation Centers. With the permanent presence of its operational team here on site, DronePort now hosts the central nerve center of the Safety Drone division. The other two ROCs are located in Oostkamp and Marche-en-Famenne, ensuring nationwide coverage.

A nationwide network of docking stations

Citymesh currently operates fifty-three docking stations that are spread across Belgium. “These stations, which have been developed in partnership with Nokia and carry CE certification, are directly connected to the emergency call centers of the Belgian fire brigades. Whenever an incident is reported, a drone can be deployed automatically from the nearest station within minutes, giving emergency services immediate situational awareness,” says Hans Similon, General Manager Citymesh Safety Drone. To manage these deployments, Citymesh relies on a dedicated group of ten certified drone pilots who operate the fleet in rotating shifts from the three Remote Operation Centers.

Proven impact on emergency response

The impact of this network is already remarkable. Since the start of the year the Safety Drone fleet has performed more than 3600 flights, accounting for over 800 flight hours, and has supported more than 1900 emergency interventions in 2025. These numbers highlight not only the technological maturity of the system but also its tangible contribution to public safety on a national scale.

Expanding into security solutions

While the original focus is on supporting emergency services, Citymesh is also moving into new domains. In the field of security, the company is experimenting with systems that link cameras and sensors on monitored sites with the drone network. When an alarm is triggered the system can send a drone to the location of the alert, allowing real-time visual information to be transmitted to operators and security teams.

New use cases presented

During today’s opening Citymesh also presented two new use cases that demonstrate the ambition of the company. In collaboration with counter drone partners they are working on the integration of detection technologies into their docking stations. This will enable the identification of unauthorized drones in the airspace and allow the Safety Drone to be dispatched to the exact location of the intruding drone or even to the pilot, collecting evidence or following the operator. At the same time Citymesh revealed the addition of a new aircraft type to its fleet, the Avy drone developed by the Amsterdam based manufacturer. With this system the company intends to explore concrete applications in the field of medical transport, where urgent delivery of critical supplies could save lives. More details about this project will be shared in the near future.

Strengthening the DronePort ecosystem

By establishing its headquarters and one of its Remote Operation Centers at DronePort, Citymesh is embedding its operations in an ecosystem that is designed to foster collaboration, testing and the scaling of innovative concepts. The move confirms DronePort’s position as the reference site in Belgium for the development of advanced drone and aviation solutions, and reinforces our ambition to build a future where aerial robotics contribute to a safer and more sustainable society.