Sky-Futures has approved the first batch of US UAS pilots and oil and gas inspection engineers trained at its UK training centre, the company announced on 7 July.
Five personnel in total were approved, two pilots and three engineers; all of whom undertook Sky-Futures’ extensive in-house training course which includes ground school, flight training and industry specific inductions.
Sky-Futures was the third UAV operating company to be awarded UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) National Qualified Entity (NQE) status in the UK, and enables the company to train prospective remote pilots to a CAA approved competency level for visual line of sight UAV operations.
The remote pilot training programme takes place at a specialised location in the UK, with facilities including free standing structures over 100ft. The facility enables the S-FRP instructors to build up trainee remote pilot and camera operating skills by simulating the complex, challenging and dangerous environments they will encounter when inspecting infrastructure both onshore and offshore for oil and gas clients.
Nick Rogers, chief regulatory and training officer, Sky-Futures, said: ‘All of our newly trained remote pilots and inspection engineers come from a range of backgrounds and industries where they have already gained many of the skills required in order to be a successful remote pilots and camera operators in the oil and gas industry.
‘Our training centre further develops the remote pilots flying skills by testing their skills on facilities that replicate the challenging real world inspection scenarios that they will find working at oil and gas facilities onshore and offshore.’
As the dynamics of aerial combat rapidly evolve, Chinese scientists have engineered a sophisticated air separation drone model that can fragment into up to six drones, each capable of executing distinct battlefield roles and challenging the efficacy of current anti-drone defences such as the UK’s Dragonfire laser system.
Advancements in air defence technologies have begun to reshape aerial combat dynamics in the Middle East, as illustrated by recent events involving the Israeli Air Force and Hezbollah.
Both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war have been using UAS for effective low-cost attacks, as well as impactful web and social media footage. Thousands more have now been committed to Ukrainian forces.
The US Army has intentions to develop light, medium and heavy variants of the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) as part of the branche’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle family.
DroneSentry-X, a cross-vehicle compatible, automated 360° C-UAS detect and defeat device, can offer 360° awareness and protection using integrated sensors. According to its manufacturer, it is suitable for mobile operations, on-site surveillance and on-the-move missions.
Funded by the country’s former president, the new C-UAS systems will be sent to the frontline where they have already been tested against Russian invading forces.
Connect with us on socials
