Drone pilots fly high: rising demand creates job opportunities

Devices are used for videography, mapping and one day could be delivering groceries: Here is how train in operating them

A test run by Tata group’s online pharmacy 1MG Labs is using drones to transport more than 500 blood samples daily in Noida, marking how businesses are reshaping logistics and potentially creating a new employment avenue.

Food delivery giant Swiggy, in 2022, partnered with Garuda Aerospace to use drones for delivering groceries in Bengaluru and Delhi-NCR.

“Our objective of introducing drones for delivery of healthcare services is to further enhance the quality, speed and reliability of services we offer to our consumers. We are piloting this with our middle-mile leg of delivering blood samples to our state-of-the-art Tata 1mg Labs in Delhi and Dehradun from our collection centers. Post collection, this allows for a speedy and uninterrupted transfer of blood samples to our labs and significantly reduces the time taken and unexpected delays,” said Tanmay Saksena, chief operating officer of Tata 1MG.
 

Tata 1MG’s technology partners work with regulatory authorities like Quality Council of India (QCI) for drone quality check and certification, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for guidelines, zone permissions and licences and local Air Traffic Control (ATC ) departments for route permissions.

“Today, the per-sample cost of drone delivery is at par with using a fleet of delivery executives. With an increased scale of samples and drone payload (today it is at 5 kg per flight) this cost will further drop by 20-30%,” said Saxena.

“Only a certified expert can operate a commercial drone. These pilots need to go through a certified training program which is a mix of classroom and ground sessions. These pilots are not only educated about all the drone rules, but also given a hands-on training to operate the drones. These pilots need a basic education qualification, should have passed a certified training program and having many flying hours working on-the-job,” said Sarath Chandra Gudlavalleti, chief executive officer (CEO) of Neosky, the drone subsidiary of RattanIndia.

Drone pilots have job opportunities in government entities, defence firms, agribusiness, real estate, environmental protection, videography, and mapping. A drone pilot could be needed at a film set, the countryside or the premises of a factory. Independent pilots typically work non-traditional hours during assignments and those with regular jobs spend an average of 45 hours per week. The work could be aerial photography, progress tracking, or terrain mapping. Technicians also test and maintain UAV systems and aid in the planning, creation, and execution of flying test events and performances.

Agricultural drones can identify infestations and spray affected crops with the required treatment. Some drones are equipped with a zapper that can kill bugs and insects. Drones also monitor the crop health, identifying areas that are dry and require water, fertilizer or pesticides.

Drones are used in movie and video production, capturing high-quality aerial images quickly and conveniently. The film industry, real estate firms, tourist resorts and education institutes are using drones for videos.
 

It is a sunrise industry that meets varied demand. “Commercial drones are supporting many enterprises and entrepreneurs in the fields of land mapping, inspection, agriculture and many more. Drones are playing a decisive role in security and surveillance. These drones are supporting armed forces, paramilitary, police, and the private industry at large. There are new and upcoming segments like training which are also seeing a high demand for drones,” said Gudlavalleti.

“A drone pilot in India makes, on average, Rs 6.5 lakh per year, or about Rs 320 per hour. The average yearly pay for a drone pilot might range from Rs 4.8 lakhs to Rs 8.4 lakhs. Thane, Bengaluru, Guntur, Pitampura, and Delhi are the five highest paying cities in India for drone pilots,” said a spokesperson from TechSci Research, a marketing consultancy firm,

Drone "uses vary from assisting you in rescuing avalanche victims in the Himalayas to doorstep delivery of groceries. This wide range of applications makes them an inevitable part of the future mode of transportation,” said Kamath N, a 33-year-old Bengaluru-based drone pilot.

India has more than 200 drone start-ups operating. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia recently said India will create at least 100,000 drone pilot jobs over the years. As the market expands, opportunities in drone services are enormous.

To become a certified drone pilot, you must 18 or older and completed Class 10 at least. State-run and private institutions, which are certified by the aviation regulator, offer drone pilot training. 

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