Drone technology to boost the country’s economy

ZIMBABWE’S economy is set to benefit from the introduction of drones and its software applications in mining, agriculture, humanitarian causes like disaster management and healthcare.

This comes as the use of drones or remotely piloted aircraft is on the rise locally with the technology revolutionising the way work is being done across a number of key sectors. In this regard Drone Solutions Academy, (DSA), the first school in Zimbabwe to be licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) to offer training in drone technology, was awarded two new licence ratings to train on Beyond Visual Line of Sight and Aeroplane (B-VLOS) type drones.

DSA accounting manager Jeremiah Musabayana said with the awarding of the B-VLOS rating, companies and individuals could now legally carry out critical services such as long-distance surveillance at border posts and mines as well as delivery of medical packages and other goods to marooned victims during disasters.

“It is expected that the adoption of long endurance fixed wing drones will rapidly increase due to the aeroplane training accredited to DSA and we are excited that people can now enroll for B-VLOS training at DSA. “The CAAZ requirement is that one must be a valid holder of a Remote Pilot License, (RPL), before they can train for B-VLOS and to incentivise the market and we are offering those who enroll to train for the RPL with us, a 30 percent discount when they enroll for B-VLOS training,’’ Musabayana said.

He added that the academy was awarded the new ratings on July 25 and that as far as training on the Remote Pilot Licence (RPL), is concerned, the ratings had enabled the academy to extend its portfolio to offer both multi-rotor and fixed wing training.

“The B-VLOS training authorises trained pilots to fly beyond the restricted distances, thereby opening vast opportunities for the industry and the academy has already started booking classes for B-VLOS and Aeroplane training and there’s overwhelming interest from industries such as mines, power producers and foresters.

“Our highly discounted “Heroes Class” RPL, (multi-rotor), training will commence on the 15 of August, followed by the highly discounted “Far and Highclass”B-VLOS training on 29 August and the highly discounted “I have wings class” RPL (Aeroplane), training commences on the 5 of September 2022”.

This comes as most of the leading mines in the country have begun to deploy drones in different ways for mine surveying or security purposes with the ministry of Agriculture also testing the use of Crop Spraying Drones to boost food security and deal with pests like quelea birds that affect wheat crops.

Zesa recently received full licensing from the Civil Aviation Authority to conduct power line inspections using drones across the national grid.