The Centre’s Catalysts series shines a light on the diverse organisations, from tenants and innovators to collaborators and members, who fuel our vibrant aerospace ecosystem here at iAero.
We explore the unique capabilities and expertise they bring, demonstrating the collective power that makes our Centre a hub of opportunity and growth. Their success is our success, and their contributions are the reason to join our vibrant community and support the growth of the aerospace, advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors in Somerset.
Next in the series is Aviation Systems Group.
Aviation Systems Group Ltd (ASG) is a specialist aviation, autonomy, and technology company delivering consultancy, training, regulatory support, managed services, and operational expertise across the UAS and broader aerospace sectors.
Locally based to the iAero Centre, ASG brings a wealth of hands-on capability to the region. As a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) authorised UAS training provider and a DJI Enterprise authorised reseller and support organisation, ASG operates at the crux of emerging technology and regulatory safety framework development.
Key Projects & Successes
To showcase live technology and spark cross-sector dialogue, iAero recently hosted a dedicated Drone Workshop with Leonardo. Designed as an open forum, the event brought together key regional players, including local industry leaders, educational institutions such as Yeovil College, and Somerset Council to explore practical applications for uncrewed platforms and discuss the roadmap toward regional autonomy.
The workshop served as a practical demonstration of how local SME expertise can accelerate broader aerospace goals, particularly concerning safety cases, certifications, and compliance within CAA frameworks – a vital piece of the puzzle for initiatives like the UK Future Flight Innovation Zone (FFIZ) project.
During the interactive session, Chad Johnson, ASG’s UAS Services Director, led deep-dive discussions on current enterprise platforms, focusing on key operational parameters including:
- Detailed breakdowns of flight times, maximum payloads, and battery logistics.
- Insights into current infrastructure deployment, such as the 11 active “Drone in a Box” (DiaB) installations across London.
- Navigating complex airspace rules to ensure safe, compliant operations within current CAA frameworks.
The session culminated in a live flight demonstration, bringing theoretical autonomy into physical reality on historic aerospace ground.
“It was a real pleasure to present the DJI Enterprise range and to answer such a range of technical, training, and regulatory-related questions from an informed and articulate audience. It was also a privilege to be able to give a Drone in a Box (DiaB) and a drone capability demonstration in a location with such a history of flight innovation,” said Chad Johnson, UAS Services Director, ASG.
Ian Punton, ASG’s Managing Director, added further: “We were pleased to participate in the drone workshop and to engage with the diverse organisations that form part of the iAero community. The event provided an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas, explore practical applications of emerging technologies and identify opportunities for future collaboration. We are pleased to be working with iAero and look forward to supporting the various organisations, technologies and initiatives that they are bringing together within a vibrant aerospace and innovation ecosystem.”
ASG and iAero
The ASG team’s mission aligns directly with iAero’s vision: driving collaborative innovation to test, assure, and deploy cutting-edge aerospace solutions safely and effectively.
A core objective of iAero is fostering strong collaborations which connect industry, academia, and local government leadership to propel local innovation forward.
The workshop brought together a broad mix of participants across the South West ecosystem led by Leonardo.
- Teams across Leonardo’s future flight and autonomy programmes joined to gain detailed insights into current UAS capabilities, exploring how specialised safety frameworks and drone tech can integrate into broader autonomous strategies.
- Representatives from Yeovil College joined the discussion following their recent Defence Technical Excellence College (D‑TEC) awarding, even bringing their own hydrogen-powered drone concept to showcase. The next generation of aerospace talent—including early-career trainees, grads, and university UAS leads—drove engaging technical discussions throughout the day.
- Representatives from Somerset Council attended to observe how local government can help facilitate, fund, and streamline future airspace and autonomy partnerships in the region.
By bringing local British SMEs like ASG together with industry, the college, and council, iAero continues to cultivate a connected, forward-thinking autonomy cluster by providing an understanding of safe UAS operations, fresh technical insights, and strong foundations for future cross-sector collaboration across the South West.
To learn more about ASG and their training and technical capabilities, visit www.asg.ltd or reach out through the iAero network.