In 1980, the Dutch Research Institute for Applied Science, TNO, began a project to prevent strikes between birds and Royal Netherlands Air Force planes. ROBIN is an acronym that captures our colourful technical heritage: Radar OBservation of Bird INtensity.
Though it would become a diverse mission of safety, spanning from ecology to defence, our story began with military jets, and it continues today. This is where, four decades later, Willem-Jan enters Robin’s story.
As Business Development Manager (BDM) in Military Aviation, Willem-Jan supports both existing and potential customers in keeping critical military airspace safe. “I understand the issues our clients face,” says Willem-Jan, “because I’ve faced them myself.”
With hands-on experience covering piloting, instructing, training, and aviation supply, few know the skies better.
Taking off in aviation
“I trained as a commercial pilot and aimed to fly for an airline."
Willem-Jan flew into a long and expansive career in aviation at a young age, completing his training as a commercial pilot in Valencia, Spain, in 2003. He continued flying and instructing in Madrid until 2012.
He said: “I trained as a commercial pilot and planned to fly for a regional airline in the Netherlands, but the industry wasn’t hiring by the time I finished in 2003, due to the aftermath of 9/11.
“I loved my time in Spain, so I took an opportunity to become an instructor and manage international student logistics at a flight school there. After a while, I joined a Spanish aviation group focused on international expansion for their Aviation Training division with bases in Spain, Portugal and Italy. Here, I helped set up programs and logistics for students from around the world.
“After instructing, I began working on aviation projects globally. I helped set up an ab initio flight training programme in Dubai and a flight school in South America, in partnership with what’s now LATAM Airlines.
“I then moved to Chile, where I served as the operations director and eventually general manager of a flight school. Under my management, we became one of the largest professional flight schools in the region, although profitability was still a challenge.
"We explored other ventures before moving to the Netherlands, including starting the first officially recognised drone pilot course in Latin America.”
KEEPING ASSETS AIRWORTHY
"I speak to teams aiming to make air bases safer and more secure."
"Often, making air bases and similar facilities safer and more secure starts with mitigating the risk of bird strikes with military aircraft, which are especially sensitive to these incidents.
“Many of these fighter aircraft have a single engine, if a bird takes out that engine, the consequences are much more serious than with a multi-engine aircraft. Stealth aircraft, in particular, have unique design features and sensitive equipment that can be damaged by bird strikes, taking them out of service or requiring expensive repairs.
“A single bird strike can take an aircraft out of service for months, which is costly, especially when there’s already a limited number of planes. With tensions high globally, military organisations need all their assets available.
“Then, there's the drone side of things, which has become more important with the increase in drone traffic. Drones can be a security threat for air bases and other military installations, and their impact on an aircraft can be similar to a bird strike.
“Our military base avian and drone radars deliver 360° coverage and advanced classification. Whatever the mission, these technologies have been designed to mitigate bird strikes and manage drone threats by delivering early alerts, practical insight, and precious time to react."
Where risk becomes RESILIENCE
"Specialised radar systems empower teams with new levels of awareness."
Specialised systems like Robin's aren't like traditional radars. They're finely calibrated to deliver detailed, reliable data, whether that’s to assess and mitigate the risk of bird strikes or give early and accurate alerts of drones.
“Radar can operate 24/7, in any weather, seeing birds and drones in real-time and in conditions where human observation is limited,” says Willem-Jan.
“Some customers tell us that the awareness radar delivers allows them to fly at dusk and dawn, previously no-fly times due to bird activity. They optimise their operations around hard data, because that's where radar starts to really shine.
“MAX provides complete information, such as the birds' altitude, direction, and even historical activity patterns, which can inform preventive measures. It was designed to be a powerful tool for wildlife hazard management. MAX tracks birds’ altitude from all directions, which is crucial for operational decisions.
“The software interface is also user-friendly and intuitive, making it accessible to users without technical backgrounds. Some clients even tell us it’s a radar ‘made by engineers for the user’, which we always love to hear.”
From St Louis to Lossiemouth
Robin’s Radar Systems are deployed at airbases and military sites all over the world, their steady and continuous turn scanning the skies for hazardous bird activity and drone incursions.
Preventing bird strikes – at Royal Airforce Lossiemouth
“RAF Lossiemouth successfully trialled our bird detection radar to mitigate bird strike risks, particularly critical for Poseidon operations due to high avian activity around the base. Installed during challenging conditions, the radar provided real-time tracking data, enhancing operational safety and flexibility with more efficient flight planning. After an 18-month proof-of-concept trial, the radar's effectiveness secured a five-year contract for ongoing use at Lossiemouth.”
A collaboration forging safer US skies – Boeing
“Robin Radar's collaboration with Boeing began in 2021 to address bird strike risks, with an avian radar trial that later expanded to Boeing’s St. Louis site for more rigorous testing. Supported by Boeing’s industry connections and feedback, this partnership, established through an offset agreement, has helped Robin gain a foothold in the U.S. market and enhance aviation safety.”
The sky is the limit
"It’s been incredibly special to work within an industry that never stops evolving."
As the aviation industry changes, so too do the technologies supporting it. Willem-Jan notes that military and civilian airports and airbases must be resilient and adaptable to survive and flourish in a world where technology is booming.
Willem-Jan said: “When I moved to the Netherlands in 2022, I briefly stepped away from aviation, immersing myself in a different industry.
"While it was an invaluable experience, it confirmed what I knew at heart: aviation is where my passion lies.
“Over the years it’s been incredibly special to work within an industry that never stops evolving. As we look ahead, I believe aviation, and particularly military aviation, will continue to prioritise safety, adapting to be resilient to the increasing threats it faces.”