Draganflyer X6 UAS Helicopter used in CCUVS Unmanned Air Systems Training Course for First Responders

The Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems' UAS training course is the "first of its kind" developed anywhere, for individuals, businesses, or organizations.

The Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems (CCUVS) in collaboration with the Canadian Police Research Centre (CPRC) have developed a five-day National Training Course for Police and first responders. This new UAS training course focuses on the safe and applied use of small Unmanned Air Systems (UAS). This UAS training will provide the attending businesses, individuals, and police forces with sufficient knowledge, and operating skills required by Transport Canada, to safely operate a UAS in Canadian airspace.

The five-day CCUVS UAS training course commences on April, 20th, 2009 and will oversee the training of seven police officers from Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, Canada.

The students will receive academic training in

• Canadian Air Law and Regulations,
• Aerodynamics,
• Meteorology, and
• Communications.

The students will also receive three days of hands-on flight training using the Draganflyer X6 VTOL UAV Helicopter developed and manufactured by Draganfly Innovations Inc. The Draganflyer X6 is a highly sought after UAS currently being used by police forces around the globe. The Draganflyer X6 helicopter is a small, safe, 1kg, electric powered, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) UAS designed to carry a 500g payload. Typical payloads include a 10MP digital still camera, a HD video camera, a low light video camera, or thermal infrared video camera. Instruction will include using the Draganflyer X6′s onboard cameras for investigating traffic accidents, HAZMAT spills and for application in search and rescue scenarios.

To date, all UAS training has been limited to military applications or Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) offering training for their own products. The Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems’ UAS training course is the “first of its kind” developed anywhere, for individuals, businesses, or organizations. The advanced type of training offered by the CCUVS course has not yet been available for commercial or civil operators in North America. The CCUVS training course will help those involved with commercial or civil UAS activities in Canada to safely operate their UAS.

Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems (CCUVS) is a national change agent, a nonprofit corporation whose purpose is to facilitate sustained profitable growth of the Canadian unmanned systems sector. Two more similar training courses are scheduled to be held in 2009 with six such courses planned for 2010.