As a sought-after film production pilot, Alan grasped the
technical challenges of aerial photography. In 2004, Helinet bought Cineflex, a high-definition aerial camera system developed by John Coyle, and then sold it in 2007 to a com- pany that’s now part of General Dynamics. Coyle’s next brainchild, Shotover Camera Systems, was
purchased by Helinet in 2012. Used by broadcast, news, utility, and film production organizations around the world, the Shotover line of gyro-stabilized camera systems provides an open-architecture, highly stable platform for cameras. It’s not just what the Shotover platform can do; its success
also lies in what it doesn’t do. Te device’s carbon-fiber body doesn’t weigh a lot, making the unit easy to transport. Its open architecture means clients aren’t restricted in their choice of cameras and lenses. Its gimbal relies on commer- cially developed software, meaning there are no export or trade restrictions on its use. Helinet’s technical expertise provides yet another line of
Kathryn, shown here with Helinet
president and COO Sean Cross, has continued her
company’s 21-year commitment to providing
comprehensive HAA
services at no charge to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
business: Helinet Technologies, which offers acquisition, installation, and support services for aerial surveillance systems for law enforcement, public safety, and government agencies. “Every solution is different,” Kathryn says, “and we’re vendor-agnostic, so we design a system that’s right for their requirements.” Helinet’s post-installation service and support are critical.
“Without a company like Helinet involved, when these agencies encounter technical difficulties, it can be hard to identify the problem within these complex installations. With Helinet Technologies, the customer experiences less frus- tration and more system uptime,” says Allison Rakun, senior VP of marketing and business development.
“Our clients just don’t have the time to deal with technical
troubleshooting,” says Kathryn. “Tey just want to go out and catch bad guys, so our experts give them turnkey service to support that.”
Future Focused With Cross on board, Kathryn’s job continues to evolve. “While Sean oversees day-to-day operations, I’m increasingly going to focus on strategy and vision: what the future of Helinet looks like,” she says. “We just started a Part 133 operation, so we’re expanding into the firefighting sector. One of our Hawks is being converted. We just won our first call-when-needed contract with the US Forest Service, so that’s a big thing for us.” Kathryn is also looking at the future of airborne transpor-
tation. “We teamed with Sikorsky for an event called CoMotion LA, which was all about the future of urban air mobility.” She acknowledges the tremendous volatility in that sector but says the future is coming fast—after all, you can already book a Helinet charter through an app on your phone. However, she thinks it’s likely drones will make an impact in sectors such as organ transplant and law enforcement before anyone climbs into an Uber Elevate. “Airborne transportation is evolving before our eyes, and
we want to be a part of that,” Kathryn says. “We’re continuing to do what Alan always did—exploring opportunities, growing where there’s room to grow, and reevaluating the industry all the time. “I want to honor Alan’s legacy, which is everything he
created, but also evolve into the future. And the future never looks like the past, ever.”
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