Fanshawe College is training the next generation of drone operators with its Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems Commercial Operations program, a graduate certificate designed to meet the growing demand for skilled drone pilots in Canada. Program coordinator Adam Debevc explained that the eight-month program goes beyond basic flight training, preparing students to use drones for data collection in construction, agriculture, and infrastructure management industries.

“It’s all things drones,” said Debevc. “We do much more than just learning to fly or understanding aviation rules. The focus is on pairing an aircraft with the proper sensor system to gather valuable data.”

Students in the program learn how to conduct land surveys, analyze infrastructure, and use drones in various industries. Debevc emphasized that drone technology is not futuristic but something that already plays a significant role in decision-making across multiple sectors.

“They think that we're five years away from this or 10 years away from these things being used in a meaningful way in businesses. But that's not true. They're being used every day across multiple industries,” Debevc said.

The program is designed for students with no prior aviation experience. Over two semesters, students gain hands-on training and technical knowledge, including drone fabrication.

“The first group of courses you're going to take in this are focused around the rules of aviation, how to operate these aircraft safely, how to physically fly them. You're going to fabricate a drone from scratch,” Debevc said.

The goal is to provide a deep understanding of drone technology, from hardware and software integration to real-world applications. Drones are commonly associated with photography and videography, but Debevc said that is just a tiny part of their capabilities.

“That’s the minimum viable product of a drone. What we teach is how to use them for data-driven decision-making,” Debevc explained.

One example is using drones for road maintenance. By flying over highways with laser rangefinders, operators can identify cracks and tree branches near power lines, helping municipalities prioritize maintenance work.

Hrutvik Dhaigude, a program graduate, said the experience gave him a competitive edge in the job market.

“I finished in December and got a job within a month as a production engineer for a mining safety company,” he said.

Dhaigude highlighted the program's hands-on training with enterprise-level drones and data analysis as key to his career success.

“We weren’t just working with consumer-level drones. We were trained to use advanced systems in real-world scenarios,” Dhaigude said.

Despite its relevance, the program remains relatively unknown.

“Many people still see drones as a hobby,” Dhaigude said.

Debevc acknowledged that the program has struggled with visibility, especially before moving to Fanshawe’s main campus.

“We were out at the aviation school for years, and students on the main campus had no idea we existed,” he said.

One of the program's strengths is its adaptability to industry needs.

“Companies hiring our graduates know they can hit the ground running because they’ve already worked with real-world tools,” Debevc said. While the program does not yet have a co-op component, many employers seek out Fanshawe graduates. “We were the first program of its kind in Canada, and now companies are coming to us when they need skilled operators,” he said.

As drone technology continues to expand, Fanshawe College’s program is positioning students for careers in a rapidly evolving field.

“Robotics is not going away, and drones are not going away. We’re just at the beginning of scaling this technology,” Debevc said.

The program offers a fast-track route to employment in one of Canada’s most in-demand fields for those looking to break into the industry.