First Industrial Drone Training College Course Starts

FORTH VALLEY College will become the first College in Scotland, and the wider UK, to deliver an innovative drone training course in March.

The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) Industrial UAS Operations: Foundation Training Course will be offered from Forth Valley College’s Falkirk Campus. It will help industry professionals to advance their drone operation skills for industrial applications, such as infrastructure inspections, site surveys, and complex photography and data capture.

Industrial Drone Training

Forth Valley College will be the first training provider in Scotland to offer the ECITB five day course, which was designed in collaboration with industrial drone users at Sellafield. They joined an ECITB working group that helped instigate the creation of industry-wide standards for unmanned aircraft on sites. It will provide a benchmark for remote pilots looking to work in complex engineering and construction environments.

Amanda Smith, UAV Equipment Programme Lead at Sellafield, said of the ECITB course: “Having this new standard means if someone comes to us with this ECITB qualification, I understand the standard of the training they’ve got, which saves time on internal assessments.”

Industrial Settings

The course helps bridge the gap between basic drone flying and specialised, high-risk applications in industrial settings.

It will appeal to experienced drone pilots looking to transition into multi-sector industrial operations.

Additionally, someone looking to refresh their skill set with an industry-approved certification will benefit from the course, as will a company looking to integrate drone technology into site operations and create a common benchmark for pilot competency.

Industrial Drone Training College Course

Consisting of a mix of theoretical and practical training modules preparing for industry requirements, the course includes:

Theory (5 Modules):

• Platform – Understanding drone types & capabilities
• Path – Flight planning & navigation
• People – Safety, crew coordination & risk management
• Procedures – Operational guidelines & compliance
• Planning – Risk assessment & mission preparation

Practical Training Includes:

• Precise drone control in varying conditions
• Flying near structures safely & effectively
• Capturing high-quality industrial data
• Managing data securely in line with site protocols

After successful completion students will receive ECITB Certification – allowing them to demonstrate to employers an industry-standard and approved level of competency for industrial drone inspections.

Real Benefits to Industry

Chris Mann, Director of Learning and Assurance, at ECITB, said: “Forth Valley College is the first college in Scotland to deliver the UAS foundation course. The use of drones across industrial settings, particularly for maintenance inspections, offers real benefits to industry including increased worker safety and efficiency as well as a reduction in asset downtime.”

Zak Stark, Head of Commercial Training and Delivery at Forth Valley College, added: “As industry demand for drone technology continues to grow, this course ensures that companies have access to an industry benchmark for pilot competency and subsequently highly skilled pilots, who can meet stringent operational and safety standards.”

For further information e-mail FVC on training@forthvalley.ac.uk.

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