Drone technology is a 'rapidly evolving' tool that's being applied in multiple sectors
Drones have fascinated millions of people around the world. It’s like being a pilot without the flying lessons – up until now, at least.
“It is a tool that is rapidly evolving,” said Alex Bilyk of Thunder Bay, forest inventory innovation manager at Silvacom, a natural resources company. He said that in forestry for example, they are handy for getting a quick bird’s eye view of surrounding vegetation. Before that point, the only practical way to take aerial images was during expensive airplane or helicopter flights. Drones haven’t replaced these other videography platforms yet, but they can image smaller areas efficiently.
However, a quick review of positions on Indeed.ca reveals that most employers require or at least want you to have a Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations. This is much more comprehensive and involves registering your drone, taking an advanced online knowledge test, and passing an in-person flight review.
That would open up the UAV pilot profession in a big way. Certain supplies including medications could be sent by drone to fly-in First Nations faster. In the natural resources sector alone, there are many possible applications including pipeline monitoring and vegetation mapping for site planning, Bilyk said.“There are going to be niches where really fill a gap where we’ve had challenges,” Bilyk said.