Drone Territory, a drone park franchise, will be launching April 1, 2017, with a kickoff event in Campbell River. Drone Territory not only meets the demand for safe spaces to fly drones but creates employment opportunities for First Nations. The launch event will introduce the drone park concept to other First Nations and will host free drone pilot training for Indigenous youth.
“Drone Territory is a perfect fit for First Nations as it does not rely on resource development or compromise our rights, titles, and traditions,” noted Drone Territory spokesperson Chief James Delorme of the Klahoose First Nation. “The business provides an opportunity for Indigenous communities to enter a rapidly growing technology sector, while offering employment opportunities for youth.”
The business launches at an opportune time as new Transport Canada rules have reduced the areas in which recreational drones can be flown. The rules prohibit pilots from flying their unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) higher than 90 meters, within 75 meters of buildings, animals or people, at night, or within nine kilometers of an airport.
Safe areas for recreational drone use are in demand for both outdoor and indoor pilots. As a sport, drone racing has seen tremendous growth over the past year, gaining coverage on ESPN, TSN, and Sky Sports, and drawing crowds to events in Las Vegas, Dubai, and Hawaii. Drone racers use first person viewing (FPV) goggles to navigate fast-flying drones through courses in a controlled area. The Canadian Federation of Drone Racing, which sets national rules and track safety standards for drone racing, has partnered with Drone Territory to provide training to First Nations Youth, track design expertise, and co-promotion through volunteers from the West Coast Drone Racing League. “We are delighted to help First Nations take a leadership position in the nascent recreational drone tourism business in order to grow and promote drone racing,” said Ryan Stephan, Co-Founder of the federation.
Drone Territory and its First Nations partners will offer drone pilots an opportunity to visit traditional territories to try, buy, and fly drones. The business also provides video capture services and technology training to First Nations to promote and document their territories.
For more information about the launch event, visit the Drone Territory website http://droneterritory.com/
