Philip Binks, Head of ATM, looks back at the past 6.5 years at Altitude Angel and why he joined this exciting start-up in an emerging drone industry. Read his blog here:
As we celebrate a decade of Altitude Angel, Philip Binks reflects on... joining a start-up
I began my career in aviation in 1995 as an air traffic controller with the Royal Air Force. 15 years later, after many tours and countless postings, and now with a young family, I retired from the RAF to find gainful employment on Civvie Street. With the experience I gained as an ATCO, I joined NATS supporting their military contract. Before long, I transitioned to the commercial side, joining NSL’s newly established Military Service Line.
I hadn’t been there long when I was ‘volunteered’ to become the SME around unmanned aviation which was being talked about more and more frequently. So I set about doing my homework, attending conferences and round tables, finding out who did what, who can fly where, and what does this mean for all airspace users.
Over the next few years I began representing NATS at conferences and trade shows. At one of these shows, a drone event at the NEC in Birmingham, I met for the first time the team Altitude Angel. I was immediately impressed by their ambition, drive, and vision for the future of aviation. Given Altitude Angel’s small but growing influence in the industry, I kept in touch and would keep an eye out for its news and announcements. A short time later I took a call from Richard [Parker], ‘would I like to come and work for Altitude Angel?’ I faced a big decision; stick with my stable, comfortable, job or take a risk on this exciting start-up. I couldn’t shake the thought of ‘What if?’ - so I went for it.
Joining Altitude Angel in November 2018 was a baptism of fire. On day one I was thrown into the deep end with Operation Zenith, a groundbreaking project to integrate drones into Manchester Airport’s busy airspace. It was intense, but it showcased what we, the company, were capable of. This set the tone for everything which has followed. Our CEO’s mantra, “A little less conversation, a little more action,” has driven the company from day one. While others talk, Altitude Angel delivers.
From the start, we’ve been at the cutting edge of this new aviation technology, constantly pushing boundaries. Projects like Operation Zenith, Skyway, and other initiatives have cemented our position as leaders in unmanned traffic management (UTM). Our mission? To make routine beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations a reality in all types of airspace.
Now, after 6 ½ years, this is the longest I’ve ever spent in one role. Altitude Angel keeps breaking new ground—introducing innovative technologies, forming global partnerships, and earning international recognition. It’s been an incredible journey, and I have no doubt I made the right decision to join.
Looking ahead, the future is bright. With strong leadership from Richard Parker and Chris Forster, Altitude Angel is set to stay at the forefront of the industry. I’m proud to be part of a company which doesn’t just talk about innovation but makes it happen.
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