KUCHING: The innovations in (UAV/UAS) automations – commonly known as drones – have a huge potential across all sectors and industries that will enable the state to reach new heights.
Hence, the high demand for professional drone operations in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) are immediately needed across all sectors.
As such, HDU Drone Academy aims to train 800 drone pilots attached with government agencies across Sarawak and get them licensed for their work through the Drone Operator License Training Course.
Its flight examiner Alasdiar Garrick said at the same time, the academy wants to ensure that the pilots are insured during work to limit the financial liabilities of the government against accidents during work.
“The possible participation is huge here in Sarawak, and the anticipation of the uptake we expect should be really huge, it is an industry changer whereby, there is not any industry that can’t be fitted with drones.
“The more industry players (business and government) realise the potential of this technology the quicker Sarawak as a state can be developed.
“There is an enormous opportunity across multiple industry sectors. If you are a smart forward thinking company, you will be able to work out very quickly how to utilise this technology.
“Therefore, it is our job that the people are trained up to the standard to be able to operate safely,” he said this during a press conference after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between HDU Drone Academy and Petrosar Academy.
He pointed out that most of the industries that he had worked with were surprised by the level of capability and the speed required to get the job done whereby, the task that would three men a week to survey can be done in 20 minutes in a day.
Garrick also added that the course aimed for those in specialised industries as well as the public. And that professional drone pilots are also taught on how to maintain, check or retrofit their craft according to regulations.
He noted that the streaming courses will extend to specialisation according to the industry which can benefit from the course would be those from the agriculture sector, power grid transmission lines, forestry, construction, oil and gas, mining, survey and mapping and pipeline inspection.
“The academy provides practical and theoretical that meets and surpasses International regulatory standards. Typical training courses shall include Administrative Procedures, Regulatory Requirements, Risk Assessment, Theoretical Knowledge and Skills Development using the UK’s programme to enable drone operators to fly safely and legally.
“The academy is characterised by its professional attitude with emphasis on safety and standards. The academy leverages on technology and modern interactive materials in lessons that are led by experienced instructors.”
The course he said will involve two days of ground course where the candidates will be taught on the Malaysian aviation industry’s law and regulations as well as the basics on how to operate a drone.
This will be followed by an exam and another two days of flight training on site where the candidates will be taught on how to manoeuvre the drone.
Meanwhile, prior to the signing of the MoU, Petrosar Academy director Feroz Hayat Khan said this is a quality course which could cater to all market segments especially in Sarawak and that the MoU is a highly regarded collaboration which could cater to the huge market of drone operators and industries in the state.
