Can You Learn to Fly Drones While Working Full-Time? Here’s How?

Drones are getting popular among folks and the drone industry is experiencing rapid growth all over the world. It is for this reason that there are numerous opportunities for individuals who wish to be part of the drone industry and open up new horizons. For working professionals, becoming a drone pilot may seem daunting at first due to time constraints; however, it is possible to become a certified drone pilot despite being a full-time working professional.

If the next question is, 'How is this possible?' let me clarify this going forward. This is possible due to the presence of weekend batches in most drone training academies today.  It enables working professionals to become certified drone pilots, enhancing their earning potential without disrupting their regular work schedule.

To make it easy for full-time working professionals to enter the world of drone training, several drone schools offer weekend batches. These programs provide comprehensive training without interfering with participants' weekday commitments. Another benefit of a drone pilot training course, whether held on weekdays or weekends, is that theory can be studied in both online and offline modes. This allows people who can't travel to the institute to learn the theoretical aspects of drone flying from the comfort of their own homes.

Weekend drone training courses span several weeks, with classes on Saturdays and Sundays. The curriculum of the course comprises theoretical and practical aspects of drone operation, such as:

• Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics: It helps people understand flight principles and drone operations
• Regulations and Airspace Management:  This helps people to be aware of the DGCA guidelines and airspace rules.
• Meteorology: People gain knowledge about weather patterns and their impact on drone flights.
• Emergency Procedures:  This includes training on handling emergencies and safe landing techniques.
• Practical Flight Training: Practical sessions come in handy for developing piloting skills under the supervision of certified instructors.

When the drone training program is completed, the person has to undergo an examination. Passing which, he/ she receives a Remote Pilot Certificate from the DGCA.

Without having this certificate, it is not permissible under the law to fly drones for commercial purposes in India.  Found guilty, a person can be penalized or even be sent to jail, along with the confiscation of the drone. The drone pilot certificate is valid for 10 years and should be renewed thereafter.

Just like the global drone industry, India's drone industry is also experiencing rapid growth. India is among the world's fastest-growing economies and is not holding back in embracing drones. According to statistics, the drone training market in India was about USD 12 million in 2021 and it is expected to reach somewhere around USD 349 million by the end of this decade.  The primary reason for this growth is the growing acceptance of drones in various sectors, including agriculture, surveillance, and entertainment.

Till July 2024, there were approximately 16,000 certified drone pilots in India, due to a monumental increase from the years gone by.  With drone pilots in India on the rise, the demand is still surpassing the supply. This gap between the demand and supply opens the opportunity for certified drone pilots.

These are some of the most popular industries that have taken drones into their stride and are using them to their full potential.

Aerial Photography and Videography

Drones are commonly used for taking photos and shooting videos in the present scenario. Whether it's about capturing a wedding function or covering a sports event, drones come in handy for providing a bird’s-eye view of all the proceedings.

Agricultural Drone Services

India is on the road to development and has undergone an industrial revolution. However, India is still an agricultural-based economy.  In line with the advancement of technology, drones are utilized for crop monitoring, irrigation, pesticide spraying and various other agricultural services.

Surveying and Mapping

Drones are used to conduct land surveys and create comprehensive construction and urban planning maps. This helps increase the speed and efficiency of mapping and surveying tasks, apart from being economical as opposed to the traditional methods.

Emergency Response

Today, drones significantly contribute to emergency response, assisting search and rescue operations and disaster management. Emergency response teams can use drones to find missing persons and deliver essential supplies to people stranded in disaster-prone areas.

Delivery Via Drones

It will not be a hyperbole to say that the last-mile delivery of goods has revolutionized with the introduction of drones. Now, many companies in India and worldwide are using drones to deliver products directly to customers' doorsteps. Drone delivery is mainly used to deliver medicines, pharmaceuticals, food, and other perishables.

The versatility of drone applications guarantees several career paths for certified drone pilots.

By February 2025, India had more than 29,500 registered drones, most of which were in Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. Apart from this, there has also been an increase in drone training institutes. They have increased from 76 in 2023 to over 150 in 2024.

The total revenue from drone services in India will surpass USD 4 billion by the end of this decade, because of the advancements and the growing use of drones in several industries.

So, all in all, it can be said that working professionals can also become certified drone pilots, thanks to the growing number of drone training centres offering weekend training. Recognizing the significant growth potential of the drone training industry, acquiring the skills and certifications can be rewarding. By selecting a reputable training institution like Flapone Aviation, working professionals can also become skilled drone operators.

The flexibility of our weekend courses allows working professionals to add one more feather to their cap in terms of skills. And, with this, sky is the limit, as far as earning potential is concerned.