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business elite canada
H
SEPTEMBER 2015
Ian Glenn’s experience in the world of
drones goes back to 1986 when he be-
came responsible for the Canadian Army’s
UAV program. A 22-year military veteran,
the CEO of ING Robotic Aviation later com-
bined his passion for robotic aviation with a
growing concern for his former colleagues
stationed in Afghanistan and developed a
solution that would provide persistent sur-
veillance during the overseas operations.
“I realized all of my friends were in harm’s
way or dying,” Glenn said. The situation
prompted his company to partner with
Boeing in providing the equipment, people
and services needed to fly surveillance
drones in Afghanistan from 2008 to 2011.
They clocked 30,000 hours with a more-
than-99-percent mission availability, pro-
viding crucial data that reduced the num-
ber of casualties.
“I call them the unseen angels that they
had over the convoys and the troops on
patrol,” he said. “That was a wonderful ex-
perience for us and we were so successful
that they had us go and work for the Navy.”
For the next two-and-a-half years, Glenn’s
team was positioned on a frigate off the
coast of Africa, working to assist with vari-
ous missions including one that stopped
the trade of more than $2 billion worth of
drugs.
Keeping eyes on Canada’s
soldiers in Afghanistan
