The Rector, Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, Captain Alkali Modibbo has called for the inclusion of drone technology in aviation studies will enable students to be equipped with practical knowledge to partake in future inventions and control.
This is just as he said, Aviation schools and universities will have to monitor emerging trends in the aerospace industry to anticipate the new skills required in training aviation professionals.
Delivering a paper titled: The Air Transport Science: Skills-Based Training, at the just concluded 4-day Airport Business Summit in Lagos, Capt. Modibbo said, hands-on learning opportunities with drones could give access to technology that afford learners total control not just theoretical, as the possibility of acquiring drones for training is rather inexpensive compared to other aeronautic technology.
According to him, drone technology in aviation studies will yield more student motivation and engagement but however noted that, care though has to be taken in incorporating drone technology, not to focus only on engineering and systems, but to include industry related needs like project and risk management and operation and scheduling matters.
“Awareness that drone technology cut across many business and technical areas ensures a multi-disciplinary approach in training”.
The NCAT Rector stated that, an inter-disciplinary curriculum will ensure students graduate, with knowledge skills that will enable them implement and integrate projects.
He said, the applied module will, in addition to engineering aspects address the application aspects like imagery, video, fieldwork planning, sensor, data analysis, and mapping.
While the second, students will learn project management aspects such as risk management, operations and scheduling. Third, they will also partake in drone flying to gain piloting skills.
Capt. Modibbo lists the benefits of the training to students to include, Show knowledge of the legal structure in which drones operate and Complete risk assessments and site surveys to meet industry standards.
Others are, show self-confidence in operating a drone safely, successfully implement a practical project using drone technology and discuss potential future applications for drone technology.
“This drone technology, method and practice of teaching that encompasses technology within a business application background, will ensure well-rounded graduates of aviation technology. The demand for skills-based training in the aviation industry is only increasing”.
He added, “The future of aerospace industry workforce entails working in much more diversified environments that require competency-based trainings after needs analysis”.
Capt. Modibbo stressed that, while rudimentary drone registration and operation rules do exist in Nigeria, they need to be updated and propagated especially in terms of authorisation and notification capabilities.
“From the Aviation point of view, the implication of such being very common, has do with stringent registration of drone ownership and the integration of these unmanned aircraft vis-a-vis manned aircraft at low altitude operations. This is to ensure safety”.
