Page 13 - World Airnews Magazine July Edition 2020
P. 13

3D Mapping is extensively used to locate and
                                                                        scan archaeological sites.  Mapping forests provide
 PREPARING DRONE OPERATORS                                              conservationists with key information on diminishing
                                                                        green areas such as the Amazon.  Drones are widely
 FOR NEW AND VARIED CAREERS                                             used on construction sites to inspect buildings and
                                                                        bridges,  saving companies time and money.  They
                                                                        are used on the mines for inspecting the safety of
                                                                        underground shafts and tunnels.  Valuable data can be
                                                                        assimilated through drone land surveying and mapping
                                                                        to pinpoint the location of mineral types and the
 Starlite, known for their commitment to the transfer of technological knowledge, is forging ahead in the
                                                                        quantity underground. Drone inspection of a ship’s
 sector of Drone Training. The Company offers aspiring drone pilots cost-effective, superior ground school   hold and tight bridge crannies cut manual man hours
 and practical courses. Obtaining a licence from a well-established, professional institution, makes you   by up to 90%.
 extremely marketable and will set you on the path to a rewarding career.
                                                                        Agriculture is a sector where drones have become
                                                                        key in assimilating data. From monitoring diseases to
                                                                        weeds, to soil moisture levels, the information can be
                                                                        analysed rapidly and assist farmers in yielding a better
 A few years back,  the term “drone” would have conjured up negative   Livestock counts and heard tracking  harvest and making wiser decisions, as the demand
 images of wars, attacks and spying using pilot-less planes. However,  as the   for food increases.
 benefits of drones are realised,  we have warmed to these aircraft as their
 presence in the skies increase.
                                                                        Vision for the future: Populous cities with
 Who needs a licence to pilot a drone?                                  traffic challenges could see flying taxis’ as part of their
 Prospective drone operatives who have chosen this exciting niche market   plans to combat this problem soon.  Uber has plans
 as a potential career in the commercial and industrial sector are required   to launch their air service as early as 2023 and
 by aviation law, both locally and internationally to obtain the relevant drone   thereafter, it is highly likely that Personal Air Vehicles
 licences.  Starlite Aviation Drone Academy is SACAA approved to train,   (PAVs) will follow.  With large companies such as
 test and issue these.  Recreational or hobby drone pilots do not require a   Amazon,  Walmart, UPS,  Google and other global
 licence to fly,  however,  they are compelled to follow the general laws and   postal companies investing in drone delivery projects,
 guidelines laid down by aviation regulatory bodies.                    it is only a matter of time before their drone parcel
                                                                        delivery service goals become a reality.
 RPL/Drone pilot training using a DJI Phantom Pro   Drones have on all accounts become the new eyes in the sky and have
 many applications that are efficient and cost-effective, especially in   So, whether you are an aspiring drone pilot, or
 commerce and industry.  Licenced drone pilots now have the opportunity   a recreational drone enthusiast, it would be in
 to follow numerous and varied career paths, where drones do the job and   your interest to ensure that you are competent at
 more often than not, more efficiently than humans in the following areas:  the controls and follow the aviation drone laws
                                                                        and regulations.
 Search, rescue and surveillance:
 Making use of drones during natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados,
 earthquakes or floods,  is key to finding survivors,  assessing damage,  and   For more information on the laws
 producing invaluable data for clean-up operations. Drones that alter in   Completing a site inspection within a few minutes  governing drones or to book a course,
 shape are now being designed for use in difficult to reach spaces such as   go to: www.starliteaviaiton.com
 caves and crevasses, making rescue more manageable.

 Law enforcement agencies use drones as first responders.  Video footage,
 for example taken from a crime scene, can provide valuable evidence to   Durban: +27 31 571 6600  Mossel Bay: +44 692 0006  train@starliteaviation.com
 investigating officers.

 First responder for data and video capture  Drones have become particularly successful in locating animal
 poachers and lawbreakers, accurately pinpointing perpetrators on the
 land and ocean.                                                                  ONLINE

 Firefighting has become more effective since the introduction of
 drones.  Not only do drones assist with gathering vital information for fire   GROUND
 fighters to make informed decisions, the data is used to devise successful
 strategies to battle a blaze and for investigation into the causes of fires.  A
 drone now exists that can withstand extreme temperatures and reach             SCHOOL
 great heights.  Thermal cameras on a drone can locate trapped people in
 burning structures and pinpoint hot spots not visible to the naked eye that
 could erupt if no action is taken.
                                                                                 DRONE LICENCE,
 Blood and medical supplies are delivered by drones to remote                    RENEWALS AND
 areas. Rwanda was the first country to use drones for blood delivery and
 its success has inspired others such as Ghana and Tanzania. Globally,  it is    REGISTRATIONS
 estimated that 2 billion people lack access to medical supplies.  Drones
 could be instrumental in combating this shortage in the near future.
 Rapid delivery of blood and medical supplies to remote areas
                                                     World Airnews | July 2020
                                                           — 11 —
   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18