Drone U, a leading provider of unmanned aerial system (UAS) training, has announced that the New York Power Authority (NYPA) has selected Drone U to provide UAS training and programme development assistance.

As a leader in the public utility space, NYPA is using drones to drive efficiency and cost savings and recently approved a five-year program to explore the use of drones to capture power generation and transmission asset health and to support more informed, real-time operations decisions.

The PROPS UAS education platform offers a comprehensive approach to training that enables NYPA programme managers to monitor pilot training efforts in real-time.

“We are thrilled to be working with the New York Power Authority and to be able to offer our cutting-edge training platform to the nation’s largest state public organization,” said Drone U CEO, Paul Aitken. “Our PROPS platform is designed to provide programme managers with a systematic approach to training and support for all levels of UAS operation, from beginner to advanced.”

The PROPS platform offers a variety of courses covering all aspects of UAS operation, from flight planning and safety to maintenance and regulations. These courses are available to all UAS trained NYPA employees, and programme managers can track the progress of each individual pilot in real-time.

The PROPS platform is combined with in person instruction provided by Drone U instructors. This instruction takes place at various locations throughout NYPA’s statewide generation and transmission footprint.

“The integration of drones into the utility industry has several potential benefits including reducing costs and increasing reliability of generation and transmission assets,” said NYPA Robotics Programme Manager Peter Kalaitzidis. “With this programme, the New York Power Authority can expand drone training and the use of drones in its operations.”
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