Drone use to take off with new training college
All you have to do is head for Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, and join the first drone-operating training course in Ireland. The Irish Aviation Authority has licensed a Cork-based company to launch unmanned aircraft and train people how to operate the devices.
Known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), they are synonymous with military operations, notably in Afghanistan, but they have wide-ranging uses.
SkyTec UAS Ireland, a research company based at the National Maritime College of Ireland, hopes to start training people to operate the drones by the third week in July. Operations manager Steve Slade said drone technology has big potential for civilian and commercial use.
“Surveying tall structures such as large industrial buildings, chimneys, pylons, refineries, pharmaceutical plants, and other hard-to-get places is a perfect use of these machines,” he said.
Mr Slade and SkyTec technical director Mike Griew drew on their experience as commercial helicopters pilots and instructors to set up the company and its training college.
“We anticipate that we will run training courses every two months, and will be able to accommodate up to 12 people on each of these courses,” said Mr Slade.
SkyTec is also working with the Irish Maritime Energy Research Cluster, and the Navy to enhance the role of unmanned aircraft for marine operations.
