DronePilot
Building the next generation workforce for the UAS industry (completed)
Project partner
UAS pilot training as the key to a smart workforce
Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), also known as drones, are a rapidly growing area of aviation with enormous economic potential. However, the sustainable development of these new markets and services requires a sufficiently large number of qualified workers – a need that is currently not being met.
Initiatives around the world are trying to respond to this challenge, particularly in the context of “Industry 4.0” and other disruptive changes such as globalisation, demographic change, climate change and technological advances, including artificial intelligence (AI). These trends emphasise the need to adapt training and qualifications to the rapidly changing requirements of the UAS industry.
Objectives of DronePilot
A holistic training concept for UAS pilots and related specialists
These goals contribute to the achievement of relevant sustainability goals (SDGs) and support the requirements of the TAKE-OFF Call 2021, which emphasises the “focus on the human factor in high-performance and service-oriented aviation” and “digitalisation for competitive, safe and environmentally friendly aviation”.
Successful project consortium and international cooperation
The DronePilot project consortium consists of the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, FH JOANNEUM and AIRlabs Austria. The consortium combines expertise in the fields of general aviation, applied UAS research, legal UAS regulation, provision of test infrastructures, digital data management and continuous training. In particular, AIRlabs Austria contributed practical experience from drone operations and requirements for the operating crew to the project. In addition, previous drone pilot training programmes were examined and the definition of practical training priorities was supported. In this way, it was possible to jointly ensure that the curricula align with real-world industry requirements.
The most important findings include
Research & Future
Research results and future prospects for UAS personnel training
As part of DronePilot, a comprehensive, holistic training concept was developed for the modular, needs-based training of drone specialists. This concept is based on extensive analyses of existing training programmes and collaboration with experts from science, authorities, industry and users.
DronePilot is a research project within the FFG TAKE OFF programme and is funded by the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI).