Sky-Futures, the global Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) inspection specialists for the Oil and Gas industry, have launched the new Sky-Futures Training Academy offering UAV training to the Rescue, Response and Resilience sector.
In partnership with Capita, the Sky-Futures Training Academy is based at the Fire Service College in Gloucestershire UK which provides a training environment following significant recent investment. CAA approved UAV training is conducted on a large controlled site which offers a wide range of operational scenarios designed specifically for Fire & Rescue Services, Ambulance Services, Police, Disaster Response and Urban Search and Rescue organisations. Basic, Intermediate and Advanced courses will train Remote Pilots to fly safely, procedurally and competently in realistic, operational environments.
UAV training is delivered by Sky-Futures highly experienced Remote Pilot Instructors who maintain their currency through operational flying offshore, in some of the most demanding conditions for operating unmanned systems. Specialist Sky-Futures staff from the Emergency Services sector ensure that the courses are suitably tailored, relevant and demanding. All training is based on best practice from manned aviation and Sky-Futures 8,500 hours of operational and commercial UAV flying experience.
David Hunkin, Sky-Futures Operations Director commented;
‘Sky-Futures clients believe that UAV operations should be approached with the same uncompromising manner to safety as response driving, firearms training and manned aviation. Located at a world-class emergency service training facility, we are delighted to be able to offer training to a level that has previously been unavailable in the market. Demand has been high and we are very much looking forward to delivering our first courses in September.’
Nick Rogers, Co-founder and Chief Regulatory and Training Officer commented;
‘Sky-Futures Training Academy is an exciting moment for Sky-Futures as it further acknowledges our lead in UAV safety, training and operations excellence. Our experience as the world leading UAV inspection provider for Oil and Gas gives us unrivalled operational experience in one of the most demanding industries for safety and efficiency. Our Training Academy draws on this experience to develop capable and safe Remote Pilot skills in similarly challenging and safety focused industries.’
Course availability and training enquiries should be directed to [email protected] or called via +44 (0)207 148 7002.
About Sky-Futures
Founded in 2009, Sky-Futures is the leading specialist oil and gas UAV inspection provider globally. Sky-Futures has over 8,500 hours of aviation experience, providing live flare, structural and under deck inspections onshore and offshore. Sky-Futures already has a footprint of over 35 clients globally, and works in over 10 countries across five regions of the world. The business is headquartered in London with offices in Houston, TX in the USA, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Aberdeen in Scotland.
The company recently received a £2.5m investment from MMC Ventures, the largest investment into any drone business in Europe, and investment from The Commercial Drone Fund, a specialist investor in Silicon Valley taking its overall Series A investment to over $4m.
Sky-Futures CAA NQE Status
Sky-Futures has held Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) National Qualified Entity (NQE) status since January 2015. It enables them to train and certify Remote Pilots for visual line of sight operations, regardless of previous experience to a UK CAA recognised standard. The NQE also allows Sky-Futures to make recommendations to the CAA for prospective UK Operators wishing to gain ‘Permission for Aerial Work’ status to fly UAVs visual line of sight for commercial purposes. The Sky-Futures training team must ensure that any external Operator has the following credentials before ‘Permission’ status can be recommended to the CAA:
- A fit for purpose Operations Manual.
- And UAV appropriate to the Operator’s intended commercial activity with applicable safety features.
- Proposed Remote Pilots have satisfactorily completed, to the required standard, the Sky-Futures ground school and flight training syllabus on their designated UAV.
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