East Orange’s Free Drone Pilot Training Program Is Taking Off

EAST ORANGE, NJ — Dozens of East Orange residents have been getting a chance to earn their wings as drone pilots under an innovative local training program – and developing a potential career while they’re at it.

The city’s program, which is done in partnership with Morristown-based Alpha Drones USA, lifted off under the leadership of the Mayor’s Office of Employment and Training (MOET).

Participants in the program get free commercial drone training, taking part in a six-week course that includes virtual instruction and valuable “hands-on training,” such as helping to clean East Orange City Hall and East Orange Municipal Court. The interns also conduct crop fertilization, aerial footage and surveillance.

Upon completion, each participant receives their FAA Part 107 Certification License to operate commercial drones. Last year, 20 students graduated from the city’s program.

The commercial drone training program follows in the footsteps of Eagle Flight Academy, a nonprofit organization based in East Orange that has been “giving teenagers their wings” since 1975.

According to city officials, the drone industry is booming:

“During the pandemic, the commercial drone market experienced a surge in demand, prompting many industries to use drones to perform important operations such as surveillance, inspection, maintenance, mapping, surveying, and more. With the continuous advancements in AI technology, drone operations are primed for even more sophisticated uses that will improve productivity, reduce costs, increase safety, and expand access to hard-to-reach areas.”

“In East Orange, we are always seeking opportunities to provide diverse and innovative workforce development and career options for our residents,” Mayor Ted Green said.

“The commercial drone industry is forecasted to have tremendous job growth over the next 25 years, and we created this program in order to ensure that our residents had both access and experience in this emerging market,” Green said.

“A commercial drone license is incredibly marketable in today’s workforce, and these newly-licensed aviators are now equipped with tools to build on or create their own businesses, forging a lucrative career path that is revolutionizing how industries operate,” he added.

Green will discuss the city’s drone training program at the upcoming U.S. Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council Board and Annual Meeting in Washington D.C.

Want to sign up for the drone training program or learn more? Contact the Mayor’s Office of Employment and Training at ladonna.johns@eastorange-nj.gov or 973-677-8914.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.