At least 12 pilots trained and certified as Visual Line of Sight Pilot (VLOS) have graduated from the ARCO Aviation Academy in Rivers State.Speaking at the weekend in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during the graduation, the academy’s Chief Instructor, Samuel Sunday, called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to stop uncertified pilots from indiscriminately flying drones in the country.He urged NCAA to ensure only qualified and certified individuals were allowed to enter the airspace as drone pilots. He said lack of strict adherence to the rules governing flying of drones could result to interference with aeroplanes, helicopters and other airspace users and risk the lives of passengers.He said: “Drone pilots must get this training to make the airspace safer. If you don’t come up for training and you feel you have the money to buy a drone and you just put it in the air you are endangering the lives of many NigeriansHe said lack of strict adherence to the rules governing flying of drones could result to interference with aeroplanes, helicopters and other airspace users and risk the lives of passengers.He said: “Drone pilots must get this training to make the airspace safer. If you don’t come up for training and you feel you have the money to buy a drone and you just put it in the air you are endangering the lives of many Nigerians
But coming out to get the training will give you the skills to make the airspace safer. I am saying that the regulator should stop those who don’t have certification from flying drones. When you send your drones into the airspace without the requisite training, it may affect plane operations and endanger the lives of people”.Sunday explained that the academy was established to stop the brain drain and capital flight caused by persons going to seek VLOS certification following lack of such Institute in the country.He noted that the academy had so far trained and certified 14 drone pilots since its accreditation by NCAA about three monthd ago.Sunday said the trainees passed through rigorous classroom and field practical sessions with emphasis on airspace safety.
He said: “ARCO Aviation Academy is the first certified drone training school in Nigeria. It is accredited and certified by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the first to have received an Approved Aviation Organization Certification (AAOC).
It was established to solve the demands for remote pilot certification and to stop people from going abroad to get drone pilot certification. So, the establishment of the institute is to allow Nigerians to stay within the country and get this certification and to spend less in getting it. The presence of the academy has helped to generate revenue for the country”.He called on the graduates to be good ambassadors of the institute and to deploy their skills, knowledge and good attitude in their operations.
