
By
Matthew Hearfield
January 28, 2025
Updated
January 28, 2025
Jean-Bernard Boura, Founder and Managing Director of Pen Aviation, shares his incredible journey from private jets to ground breaking innovations in the drone industry. In this episode, he discusses how his team pivoted during COVID and why certification, safety, and automation are essential for the future of drones and logistics.
This episode provides a fascinating look at how technological and operational innovations can address the gaps in the drone industry, making it more scalable and profitable.
Listen to the full episode below:
The pivot to drones
So what we did is overnight, we said, we're going to switch to 90% of our time and resources to drones, literally overnight.
ean-Bernard Boura’s journey into the drone industry was heavily influenced by his extensive experience in aeronautical engineering and private aviation. As the founder of Pen Aviation, he initially focused on private jet sales and operations but saw an opportunity to diversify into drones during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
His aviation background enabled a seamless transition into the drone space, where his expertise in safety, engineering, and operations played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s approach to innovation. The pandemic served as a catalyst for this shift, prompting a strategic reallocation of resources.
Challenges in the drone industry
It’s one thing to operate one, two, three drones with two or three persons. You may make it work, you may break even, but it’s not scalable.
The drone industry presents significant challenges, particularly in achieving scalability and profitability due to its fragmented nature. Jean-Bernard highlights a key issue: while there are over 2,000 drone manufacturers globally, there are very few large-scale operators capable of running drones at a volume that ensures consistent profitability. This imbalance creates barriers to the widespread adoption of drones in commercial operations.
Additionally, high fixed costs, such as those tied to compliance, safety, and human resources, exacerbate the difficulty of turning a profit, especially since drones inherently generate less revenue due to their smaller payload capacities.
Solutions for scalability and profitability
If we want to make sure that the operation can be profitable, we have to automate the flight, but we also have to automate the whole operation of the drone.
To address the challenges of scalability and profitability in the drone industry, Jean-Bernard Boura emphasizes the need for a dual focus on certified drone hardware and automated operations. Certification ensures that drones meet rigorous safety and compliance standards, which is essential for commercial viability.
However, certification alone is not enough; operational costs must also be minimised to enable profitability. Recognising that human labour is a significant expense, Pen Aviation developed Digimind, a digital platform to automate drone operations, including flight planning, compliance, and maintenance tasks. This holistic approach enables cost reduction while ensuring efficiency and safety.
Innovation and awards
Pen Aviation's innovative approach to drone technology has garnered widespread recognition and acclaim. The company has received several prestigious awards, including honours from the French Chamber of Commerce for its achievements in entrepreneurship and innovation.
By tackling some of the industry's most pressing challenges, such as scalability and automation, the company has positioned itself as a leader in the evolving drone sector.
The future of drones
You need to be able to combine the three elements: faster service, lower cost, and lower carbon footprint.
Jean-Bernard Boura envisions a future where drones are seamlessly integrated into broader logistics networks, addressing critical gaps in scalability and efficiency. He talks about the importance of solving challenges such as heavy payload capabilities and incorporating drones as one component of a comprehensive supply chain solution.
This vision involves creating systems that not only automate drone operations but also ensure that drones contribute to an optimised logistics ecosystem with reduced carbon footprints and increased speed.
Key takeaways
- The pivot to drones Jean-Bernard’s aviation expertise helped Pen Aviation pivot to drone technology during COVID-19.
- The challenges of the drone industry: The drone industry struggles with scalability, high costs, and limited revenue from small payloads.
- Solutions for scalability and profitability: Pen Aviation combines certified drones with automation via its Digimind platform to cut costs.
- Innovation and awards: The company’s innovations have earned awards for entrepreneurship and technological advancement.
- The future of drones: Jean-Bernard aims to integrate drones into logistics for faster, cheaper, and greener operations.
Article and quotes have been edited for brevity and clarity.