Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
Some pilot of United States of America (US) swerved to become a drone operator. They took this step to find alternative jobs in the midst of the threat of termination of employment (PHK) mass corona occurring in the US aviation industry.
Flight pilot Michelle Bishop said piloting a drone caught her eye. In his quest to find work in an industry he loves, Bishop finds an opportunity to pilot a drone.
“I just try to fly as much as I can because I love him,” said Bishop, who has worked as an airline pilot for more than 20 years. CNN, Monday (24/8).
A start-up The US, Aquiline Drones, has an ambition to help provide jobs to licensed pilots like Bishop within 2 months.
Although it is freelance work, Aquiline Drones promises jobs such as recording wedding moments by air to taking pictures of bridges and highways for the public works department.
Aquiline Drones founder Barry Alexander wanted to create a practical economy for drone operators who could be steered via a mobile app. He said the application function is not much different from Uber or Lyft.
Aqualine’s goal is to help the process for thousands of drone operators to obtain licenses dominated by ex-flight pilots. Alexander projects that thousands of airline pilots can turn to become certified drone operators.
Until now, the number of drone operators is still very minimal. In the US there are only 200 thousand certified operators.
Since 2016, the US Federal Aviation Administration has required drone operators to be certified.
The company’s licensing program is scheduled to start on September 1. Anyone can enroll in grades 6 to 8 this week.
The program is priced at US $ 1,000 or the equivalent of Rp. 14.7 million (exchange rate of Rp. 14,700 per US dollar).
The company is also developing other courses for those already familiar with aviation terminology, regulations and weather monitoring. The program costs US $ 800 or the equivalent of Rp. 11.7 million.
As part of the program, Aquiline will guide participants through the Federal Aviation Administration’s licensing process with a drone fee of US $ 4,000 and annual insurance of $ 1,500 or a total cost of Rp. 80.8 million directly through Aquiline.
So far, there have been 3,500 people registered, consisting of 1,500 general public and 2,000 airline pilots, Bishop being one of them.
“I don’t really know anything about drones. But if I have to stop flying, I want the opportunity to learn something new,” Bishop said.
If successful, Aquiline will help licensed pilots like Bishop find work via an app that connects contractors or tenants with operators. Alexander estimates that workers will be paid a minimum of US $ 150 to US $ 300 per hour
(well / eight)
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