January 8, East Orange, NJ: Later this month, Mayor Ted R. Green will be presenting the City of East Orange’s free commercial drone training program during the U.S. Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council Board and Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
The program, a partnership with Alpha Drones USA, was initiated under the leadership of the Mayor’s Office of Employment and Training (MOET), making it the first of its kind to provide free commercial drone training for residents.
The presentation, which will be attended by fellow mayors and workforce development professionals from major cities across the country, will take place on Wednesday, January 17 at 10am at the St. Regis Hotel.
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.
The commercial drone training program follows in the footsteps of Eagle Flight Academy, a non-profit organization based in East Orange that has been giving teenagers “their wings” since 1975.
“In East Orange, we are always seeking opportunities to provide diverse and innovative workforce development and career options for our residents,” said Mayor Green. “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.”
In 2023, the program graduated 20 students, all East Orange residents of varying ages and skillsets. MOET Manager LaDonna Johns said graduates of the program fulfilled a six-week hybrid course comprised of self-directed study, in-person and virtual instruction, and hands-on training, which included the commercial cleaning of East Orange City Hall and East Orange Municipal Court, a project that yielded both practical experience and cost savings to the city.
The interns also conducted crop fertilization, aerial footage and surveillance. Upon completion, each participant received their FAA Part 107 Certification License to operate commercial drones.
“We thank Mayor Ted Green and the Mayor's Office of Employment and Training for their leadership and foresight," said Kelvin King, Founder and CEO of Alpha Drones USA, which is located at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, NJ. "Together, we pioneered a program that develops new aviators who entered the aviation industry as commercial drone pilots. These new drone pilots cleaned local buildings and they are prepared to provide a multitude of drone services nationwide.”
“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,” added Mayor Green.