Flyby Technology Hires Newest ATPL Students for Skylift Drone Operations

Skyborne Airline Academy celebrated the achievement of 2 recent ATPL UK graduates joining Flyby Technology as Beyond Line of Visual Sight Drone Operators. The students now put their training to use, supporting flight operations for an NHS trial to evaluate drug delivery for the Isle of Wight. 

The graduates, James Kirk and Adam Prince, have begun working on a project with Apian for the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, researching the capabilities of drone technology to increase speed of delivery and access to chemotherapy drugs between Portsmouth and the Isle. If promising, the route could save a good deal of time and medication wastage, especially important for intensely expensive, temperamental chemo drugs. Kirk describes his new job as helpful for aviation career, saying "Although being a drone pilot and airline pilot seem vastly different, the training I received at Skyborne has been extremely beneficial to me. In our MCC course, we learned to operate in a multi-crew cockpit which at Flyby has helped me to prepare for the pilot monitoring role and develop effective communication within the team. The work we’re doing...is really interesting and rewarding. I’m glad to be a part of this team making impressive steps in automation for the medical industry.”

Skyborne Airline Academy prides itself as being one of the United Kingdom's most professional crew training centers, offering a turnkey solution for those passenger carriers looking to streamline recruitment, selection, training, and quality assurance. Offering cabin crew education, check pilot training, and advanced pilot training for more than 3 decades, the academy has built a number of associations and relationships with airlines all over the world. A recent deal, brokered with Skywest Airlines, brought their Professional Pilot Pathway to Skyborne grads, allowing a smoother transition into the workforce and a leg-up on seniority once flying the line. 

“We’re very proud of James and Adam for not only completing their Integrated ATPL course with us, but for using their studies to embark on an exciting new career," said Carl Haslem, Skyborne Director. “At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Skyborne began implementing a number of initiatives to help its trainees improve their prospects of securing a job. Our partnership with Flyby Technology allows graduates to use their ATPL experience while enhancing their pilot skills and expanding their knowledge to operate commercial drones.” 

FMI: www.skyborne.com