About us
Helicus collaborates and manages products and projects with strong partners and suppliers, effectively leveraging an integrated eco system.
The core team is made up of Mikael Shamim, Geert Vanhandenhove, Alain Uyttenhoven, Chesney De Bondt, Rik Van Boxem, Sadisha Koralage, Kobe Van Landeghem and Nicolas Wong. Aviation and Healthcare expertise comes together to create functional solutions based on drone technology. We aim for a collaborative approach, that also leverages our partner capabilities to provide you with the right solutions.
Team
Mikael Shamim, MSc, MBA, PPL/RPL
Following a remarkable academic track record, Mikael has been fortunate to collaborate with and learn from exceptional professionals throughout his carreer.
Geert Vanhandenhove, BSc,
PPL Instructor/RPL
Building on his academical education in Applied Communications, he followed a broad range of IT, Project Management and aviation related courses.
The creation of an airline company video during his Communications studies, triggered Geert’s lasting interest in the airline sector. He obtained his Private Pilot License (PPL-A) and joined the Royal Antwerp Aviation Club (RAAC). Currently Geert is member of the board and a pilot ground instructor, teaching navigation to new private pilot students.
Joining the drone age, Geert obtained his RPL-R class 1 license and later converted to EASA A2.
Geert is experienced at developing, implementing and managing solutions for business needs at different levels of complexity. Through analysis and input from all stakeholders he builds and support solutions, new processes and process improvements. Geert facilitates change processes by creating broad support always ensuring that the final goal is being implemented. He builds strong teams and enjoys seeing his team members grow through personal development. He measures his achievements by their business impact with a genuine interest in people.
Geert has built a strong career in the IT and healthcare. He has taken up roles as IT & Data Manager (De Vijver Media, Flanders), Business Intelligence Portfolio Manager (Johnson & Johnson) and Business Intelligence Manager (OCD Pharmaceutical).
Alain Uyttenhoven brings over 25 years of executive leadership experience. Notably, he served as President of Toyota Germany and Vice President of Lexus Europe, where he was instrumental in driving strategic growth and brand development.
At Helicus, Alain leads corporate relations, leveraging his extensive experience to advance the company’s mission to provide drone-based transport solutions. His role involves engaging with stakeholders across various industries and government, fostering partnerships that are crucial to develop scalable and efficient drone-based logistics.
With a strong background in corporate strategy and a passion for innovation, Alain is dedicated to support Helicus’s growth and its commitment towards socially relevant use cases to transform logistics through advanced drone technology.
Chesney De Bondt, MSc
Chesney holds a master’s degree in design sciences (M.Sc. Product Development) from the University of Antwerp and EASA compliant A2 remote pilot license.
Passionate about al things that are drone related, Chesney designed and build a 3D-printed quadcopter already in 2015. Based on this first version, he reviewed all requirements and created a new and improved quadcopter with greater functionality. During the next years he would continue to follow up on electronics development and consumer electronics, developing a strong interest in the technological aspect of product development that can support optimal user experiences.
During his five years Master program he learned how to design a product from start to finish. He worked for Helicus since 2019 as an intern, on the Drone Cargo Port design team, on which he also wrote his thesis that was completed Cum Laude. Chesney joined in 2020 to propel Product Development, and continues to work on this key air-ground integration activity in collaboration with the partner teams.
As of July 2020, Chesney coordinates overall product development activities within Helicus and strives to push the ecosystem’s product development to the next level, structuring opportunities and closing gaps identified by the partners. Using his multi-disciplinary approach, he takes a 360° view when making design choices, creating solutions that best fit customer and partner’s needs.
Rik Van Boxem, MSc
Rik holds a master’s degree in design sciences (M.Sc. Product Development) from the University of Antwerp and EASA compliant A2 remote pilot license. He has been working for Helicus since 2020. He wrote his Master thesis on integrated order entry & tracking processes for hospital labs and pharmacies, that was completed Magna Cum Laude.
As Quality & Process manager, Rik’s objective is to ensure safe and efficient processes throughout the Helicus ecosystem ranging from order entry to delivery. He is responsible for specification management, as well as Helicus software quality accreditation.
With his background in Product Development, with focus on interaction design, Rik loves to analyse customer needs throughout the value chain to create and document integrated quality processes. His ongoing work targets the operator-work-position user experience at the automated Command & Control Center. Any remote fleet operator using Helicus solutions will be supported by an ergonomical environment where workload is correctly prioritized.
Sadisha Koralage, MSc
Sadisha holds a master’s degree in Business Economics (M.Sc.) with a major in Finance and a minor in Data Science from the University of Antwerp, and a bachelor degree in Economics (B.Sc) from the North Carolina State University.
He is highly interested in contributing to high-tech environments, leveraging prior experience in the grant writing and subsidy management space in the US (Eva Garland Consulting) as a Client Relations Associate.
As a Business Analyst, Sadisha’s evaluates national and European funding opportunities and coordinates proposal writing. He is administratively responsible for Horizon Europe and CEF call proposals that Helicus coordinates. Operationally, Sadisha analyses, reviews and improves business processes including the flight operational processes.
Kobe Van Landeghem, MSc
Kobe holds a master’s degree in design sciences (M.Sc. Product Development) from the University of Antwerp, with a strong passion for automation and electrically powered solutions. During his academic journey, he focused on the intersection of automated systems and innovative product design. He completed his thesis on automatically adjustable handlebar and saddle to enable multiple users to share a single e-bike without compromising ergonomic and biomechanical comfort.
With practical experience in designing and integrating hardware systems, Kobe combines user focused expertise with a hands on approach. His enthusiasm for electrically powered products fuels his dedication to developing solutions that address the needs of the rapidly evolving UAV sector.
Kobe also holds an EASA compliant A1/A3 remote pilot license.
By joining Helicus, Kobe aims to enhance product functionality and ensure seamless integration within the drone-based medical transport ecosystem.
Nicolas combines a French Engineering degree (Dipl.Ing.) from IPSA (Institut Polytechnique des Sciences Avancées, France), with an Advanced Master’s degree in Aviation Safety Management from ENAC (École Nationale de l’Aviation Civile, France), equipping him with both technical depth and operational safety expertise.
Nicolas developed significant expertise in U-space regulations during his time at EUROCONTROL, supporting the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking in Brussels. During his year-long internship at EUROCONTROL, he performed a comprehensive assessment of the current U-space advancements in relation to the existing European regulatory framework.
His subsequent internship at Aircalin in New Caledonia further deepened his practical experience. There, he developed a new occurrence reporting system aligned with EU regulation 2014/376, and improved internal safety & compliance internal procedures.
At Helicus, Nicolas focuses on coordinating flight operations and supporting BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone missions. He manages authorizations processes with the civil aviation authority and contributes to the continuous improvement of safety management processes. Nicolas brings critical thinking, adaptability, and a strong drive to advance drone-based medical transport operations within complex urban environments.
Helicus BVBA
Pastoor De Conincklaan 32
2610 Antwerp, Belgium
VAT: BE0667845691
info@helicus.com
Tel: +32 485 685 222
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