Remote Pilot Training Centre to Be Set Up at Erode Sengunthar Engineering College
In a move set to boost drone technology education and entrepreneurship in Tamil Nadu, Krushaka Unmanned and Airborne Solutions Private Limited has partnered with Erode Sengunthar Engineering College to launch a Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO) on the college campus in Thudupathi, Erode.
The initiative is part of a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between V. Venkatachalam, Principal of the college, and Wing Commander (Retd.) S. Somasundaram, CEO and Director of the Bengaluru-based drone solutions firm. Under this agreement, the college’s Drone Development Centre will collaborate with Krushaka to establish a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-approved RPTO, which will function under a franchise model. The company will oversee all aspects of training and certification.
The new training centre aims to equip aspiring drone operators with practical and industry-relevant skills through specialised courses. These include:
- Kisan Drone Operator Course – focused on agricultural applications such as crop monitoring, precision spraying, and farm analytics
- Cargo Drone Operator Course – covering drone logistics and delivery operations for various industries
- Survey and Mapping Operator Course – training students in aerial mapping, geospatial data collection, and analysis
Upon successful completion, participants will receive remote pilot licenses or certificates certified by the DGCA. The courses will follow the standard syllabus laid out by the regulatory body, with additional modules tailored to the specific needs of each specialization.
This collaboration is expected to provide a major boost to drone skill development in the region, not only benefiting students of the college but also opening doors for drone enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across Tamil Nadu and beyond.
With the demand for trained drone pilots steadily rising across sectors like agriculture, logistics, and infrastructure development, the establishment of this RPTO is a timely step toward building a skilled workforce in India’s rapidly growing drone industry.
