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“Previously, Taranis Academy served as a repository of information. If someone was looking for an answer, they could search and find it,” says John Carroll, Director of Flight Operations. “But what we’re turning around for 2023 is a true place of learning. We’re providing everything an aspiring pilot will need including formalized training—every step—from the time a pilot wakes up until end-of-day image upload.”
The goal of the program is three-fold with Taranis strengthening their position in the delivery of actionable insights that allow farmers to make both in-season and future management decisions with confidence, expanding Taranis’ world’s largest library of leaf-level crop imagery, and fueling the industry with well-trained agricultural drone pilots.
Taranis Academy offers a series of online modules that are completed at the student’s pace with a test accompanying each section. A final, comprehensive written test provides certification to move to the next level of the Academy—in-field training. A cooperation between Taranis and their network of retail partners, also known as drone service providers (DSPs), can be leveraged to complete hands-on training. At the completion of training, ag retail partners have the opportunity to add a well-trained drone operator to their team.
Carroll says the application process is easily accessible and straightforward.
“We’re looking for agriculture and aviation students who are interested in learning to fly a drone proficiently. We prefer a (Federal Aviation Authority certification) 107, but if they don’t have one, we can help guide the process,” he adds.
Other qualifications include an aptitude for technology, the ability to withstand summer temperatures for extended periods of time and reliable transportation. Currently, the in-field opportunities will focus on following the Taranis flight operations coverage through the growing season, from early post-planting through pre-harvest, while the online training modules can be completed at anytime throughout the year.
“The program has been accepting applications for a little over a month, and training starts in January for the 2023 season. There’s a lot of interest in drone technology right now and we’ve reached out to 52 schools with aviation and drone technology programs, so we’re excited to see how many opportunities we have to help students learn to operate drones,” offers Carroll.
To learn more about Taranis Academy, visit www.taranis.com/flight-operations/ or contact academy@taranis.ag.
Media Contact:
Sarah Rang
Sr. Manager, Marketing and Communications
sarah.rang@taranis.ag
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