'NEU START' Event at Cottbus-Neuhausen Airport Showcases the Future of Drones and Aviation
Germany's Cottbus-Neuhausen Airport hosted the 'NEU START' flying weekend, highlighting autonomous aviation, drone racing, and BVLOS operations. The event spotlighted the Lausitz BVLOS Area as a key testbed for scaled commercial drone use cases including medical logistics, automated inspections, and agricultural applications. Droniq CEO Jan-Eric Putze emphasized the infrastructure's role in moving drone operations from pilot projects to routine commercial deployment.
Highlights
- Germany's Cottbus-Neuhausen Airport hosted the 'NEU START' flying weekend, positioning itself as an emerging hub for drone and autonomous aviation technology in the Lausitz region.
- The airport's newly built ~1,080-metre runway and ~9 hectares of commercial development land form the physical foundation for expanded aviation and drone industry activities.
- The Lausitz BVLOS Area provides a dedicated regulatory and operational framework for beyond visual line of sight drone flights, enabling use cases including medical supply delivery, infrastructure inspection, and agricultural operations.
- Droniq CEO Jan-Eric Putze stated that the Lausitz BVLOS Area is a critical step toward transitioning drone operations from pilot projects to routine, scalable commercial deployment.
- The 'NEU START' event drew industry professionals, policymakers, and the general public, featuring drone racing, autonomous flight demonstrations, and exhibitions of logistics and industrial drone applications.
Flying Weekend Reveals the Future Shape of Aviation
Last weekend, Germany's Cottbus-Neuhausen Airport (Verkehrslandeplatz Cottbus-Neuhausen) hosted the 'NEU START' event, formally presenting to the public the results of years of preparation. The event positioned the airport as an emerging hub for aviation and drone technology, while highlighting the significant potential of the Lausitz region.
A Modernized Airport With a Clear Vision
The groundwork for this development was laid over the past several years. Cottbus-Neuhausen Airport now features a newly constructed runway approximately 1,080 metres in length, modern flight operations infrastructure, and around nine hectares of commercially developable land ready for immediate use—representing a substantial upgrade in overall capability.
Yet the 'NEU START' event conveyed an even clearer message: development here has already moved well beyond traditional aviation.
NEU START: Making Innovation Tangible
The flying weekend brought together industry professionals, corporate representatives, politicians, and a broad public audience of technology enthusiasts and families. Flight demonstrations, drone racing, and technical exhibitions made the latest technological advances concrete and accessible.
The event focused on the following themes:
- Autonomous aviation technology
- New mobility solutions
- Practical drone applications, such as logistics and industrial use cases
Far more than an airshow, the event served as a compelling showcase for the airport's future potential.
The Lausitz BVLOS Area: A Key Enabler for Scalable Drone Operations
One of the central topics at the event was the Lausitz BVLOS Area—a dedicated zone established for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights. This mode of operation is critical to the commercialization and scaling of drone services. Applications demonstrated and discussed at the event illustrated the breadth of possibilities:
- Medical supply transport
- Automated infrastructure inspection
- Agricultural and forestry drone operations
The convergence of infrastructure, technological capability, and a supportive regulatory framework creates the conditions necessary for this emerging sector to thrive.
Droniq: A Core Partner for Safe Drone Operations
Droniq is actively involved in building out this infrastructure, with the goal of safely integrating drones into the existing airspace management system and paving the way for sustainable BVLOS commercial operations.
Droniq CEO Jan-Eric Putze stated:
"Autonomous aviation will play a central role in the economy and society. The establishment of the Lausitz BVLOS Area is a key foundation for enabling safe and scalable drone operations."
In BVLOS operations in particular, coordinated and transparent airspace management is essential. Droniq is leveraging its expertise to actively help build and refine the necessary frameworks.
Conclusion: A New Beginning in Plain Sight
The 'NEU START' event powerfully demonstrated how an airport can reposition itself as a hub for innovation, collaboration, and economic development.
For Droniq, the message is unambiguous: initiatives like the Lausitz BVLOS Area represent a critical step in transitioning drone applications from pilot projects to normalized commercial operations.
The new takeoff from Neuhausen is not merely the conclusion of an event—it marks a significant milestone on the road to a new era of aviation.
This article was originally published on the Droniq official website.
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