Drone Jobs in Disaster Relief, Law Enforcement & Private Security — A Guide for Defence Background Candidates

For defence professionals, there are various prospects of serving the country even after retirement from the job. With the drone technology transformation, a new avenue has certainly opened up for them. This blog holds significant value, especially for individuals seeking to apply their drone piloting skills in disaster relief, law enforcement and private security.

Natural disasters take a lot of lives and also cause a lot of damage to mankind and infrastructure every year. In an event like this, time is key. Drones are not just making their presence felt but are also proving to be a game-changer in relief and rescue operations. They can come in handy to provide instant information even in inaccessible areas. A drone can take high-resolution images, allowing a quick assessment of disaster-struck areas.

Drones make use of thermal sensors to detect survivors stuck under debris. They can also excel in delivering food, water, and medical supplies to people affected by disasters. They have been seen in disasters like the Kerala floods. This makes the job of rescue teams easier and safer.

As a drone pilot in disaster management, a person will be responsible for mapping the area struck by the calamity, evaluating the extent of damage and providing rescue teams with all the accurate information. The tactical knowledge and patience of a person will be crucial in these jobs.  If you can keep your head under pressure, this job is surely for you.

Nowadays, police and security forces are making use of drones to maintain law and order. Drones have a strong case for being effective in crowd control, suspect search and crime scene monitoring. They prove helpful in monitoring a situation from a safe distance.

For instance, police in ‘City Beautiful’ Chandigarh use drones to prevent crimes and keep an eye on suspects. These drones have also come in handy for monitoring illegal activities, such as liquor smuggling. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also advised drone deployment for surveillance, situational analysis, crime control, security, and disaster management.

A drone operator can assist in law enforcement, crowd monitoring, traffic control, and rescue operations. Your military training, discipline and tactical planning will be very useful here. You can contribute to the security of the country by joining the police or the home guard.

It is not just about government agencies; private security companies also make extensive use of drones.These are an affordable and effective way to monitor factories, construction sites and vital installations. They provide surveillance, all around the clock.

In private security, drones can be used to monitor industrial complexes and major events. A drone operator can work for a private security company or start their drone services. This field is growing rapidly and the doors are wide open for you, if you want a lucrative career with competitive pay.

To work in private security, you need a drone pilot certificate and a good knowledge of security protocols. Your military experience can make you a reliable and resourceful professional in this field.

Defence background candidates can prove worthwhile in this emerging field. Your discipline, technical knowledge and ability to work in tight situations make you stand tall in all the competition.  One should consider this not merely a job, but an opportunity to serve the nation.

Your defence experience provides a unique understanding of the operation and maintenance of drones.  A military professional knows how to plan and execute a mission, and that too with ultimate precision and efficacy.

The Indian Drone Rules 2021, implemented by the government, have significantly reinforced the industry.  One should get trained at a DGCA-recognized drone training academy to tick all the boxes when it comes to drone training. This ensures safe and secure drone piloting by the pilots.

 To obtain a drone pilot license, you must be between 18 and 65 years old and should have completed 10th grade.  Upon completing the course, a DGCA-approved remote pilot certificate is awarded to the candidate.

One learns all the important skills, including flying rules, emergency procedures, and data analysis. Several institutes, such as Flapone Aviation and Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Academy, provide the best-in-class drone training.

The sector is still in its nascent stages of development, which presents some challenges. The major challenge that needs to be mitigated is the misuse of drones. Privacy and security issues should be addressed.

Despite this, the future of the drone industry is fairly bright. According to a report by EY-FICCI, the manufacturing capacity of the drone industry in India will reach around USD 23 billion by 2030. India will need nearly 2 lakh drone pilots by 2025.

The drone requirement is constantly on the rise in various sectors, including disaster management, agriculture, delivery and security. Government initiatives, such as 'Namo-Drone Didi', are also promoting employment in rural areas. Therefore, this is the right time to step into this career.

A career in drone technology for defence personnel is not just a new job. It is a unique opportunity to do something for society, even after you have retired from military service. Whether it is rescuing people at the time of disaster, maintaining law and order or protecting important installations, your contribution will be priceless.

If you want to continue serving the nation even after your retirement, becoming a drone pilot can be a great option. This will give you respect, good earnings and above all, the satisfaction of serving the country.  Come to us at Flapone Aviation to become a certified drone pilot, and mark my words, you will get all the exposure that you are after, pertaining to the practical drone training and then using the same in the real-world scenario.