PrecisionHawk Inc., announced a partnership with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), a non-profit organization that advocates for general aviation. This collaboration brings together two of the top aviation organizations to connect pilots with a growing network of drone service providers, as well as access to training, legal services, and job opportunities.
The agreement offers independent drone operators a discounted membership rate with AOPA and access to jobs that require a commercial drone pilot from the world’s leading enterprises through PrecisionHawk’s Droners.io, a drone pilot network. Additionally, AOPA will offer its Drone Pilot Plus membership, including Drone Pilot Protection Services, to PrecisionHawk’s drone pilot network at a one-time $25 new AOPA member discount. Members of Droners.io who are already members of AOPA will receive a one-time $20 discount toward their annual renewal. These new benefits are slated to start in late summer/early fall.
“AOPA is a true pioneer in aviation advocacy and has cultivated a vibrant and diverse community of aviation enthusiasts that directly complements PrecisionHawk’s work with drone pilots,” said Irina Denisenko, vice president of the PrecisionHawk Drone Pilot Network. “This partnership further demonstrates the value of industry collaboration to ensure that drone operators have access to quality job opportunities and are equipped with the tools and support they need to build their portfolio and grow their business while flying safely and efficiently.”
Comprised of a network of more than 15,000 commercially licensed drone pilots, Droners.io is the largest community of its kind. Since PrecisionHawk acquired the drone pilot platform in February 2018, Droners.io has allowed PrecisionHawk to service its growing base of enterprise customers in insurance, agriculture, energy, construction and government, while offering drone operators the opportunity to turn their passion for drones into a profession.
Aviation regulators in the U.S. expect the number of commercial drones and drone operators to quadruple over the next five years, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expects to issue more than 300,000 remote pilot certificates by the year 2022. This explosive growth signals a demand for education and support in order to ensure the safety and utility of commercial drone operations and underscores the unique value of PrecisionHawk’s and AOPA’s partnership to pilots and the broader industry.
“As commercial drone flight increases in U.S. airspace, pilots continue to find their place in the larger world of aviation and seek opportunities to expand their experience,” said AOPA Sr. Director of UAS, Kat Swain. “We are committed to serving and growing the drone community, and by partnering with PrecisionHawk we’re ensuring that both new and experienced drone pilots have access to the support, training, resources and jobs they need to operate safely, frequently and innovate alongside general aviation.”
AOPA and PrecisionHawk will be hosting the AOPA Drone Social at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh on Friday, July 27, from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. CT in Oshkosh, Wis. Aviation enthusiasts interested in learning how drone operators are earning real income by providing flight services to the world’s leading enterprise are encouraged to RSVP here.
