DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations, the Pune-based drone startup, has received the green light from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to establish its fifth Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTO) in Dharwad, Karnataka.
The approval, granted through a letter dated July 11, 2024, and received by the company on July 24, 2024, will see the Dharwad facility collaborate with the Karnataka Forest Academy to deliver high-quality drone pilot training.
This center is set to train 240 officials from the Karnataka Forest Department in DGCA certified drone piloting and its applications in forestry and surveillance.
In addition to serving the Karnataka Forest Department, the Dharwad center will offer training opportunities to civilians, broadening its impact.
Founded in 2017, DroneAcharya went public in December 2022, and already operates four DGCA certified training centers in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Punjab.
These centers provide a range of courses beyond pilot training, including Drone Building, Drone Data Processing and GIS, Aerial Cinematography, Python for Drones, and specialized programs like Drones in Agriculture and Drones in Disaster Management.
Prateek Srivastava, Founder and Managing Director of DroneAcharya, added, “This initiative aims to enhance the operational capabilities of the department through the use of advanced drone technology enabling forest frontline staff to harness its potential in surveillance, search and rescue operations, and tracking activities related to wildlife conservation and poacher deterrence”
DroneAcharya has enjoyed a busy year, securing multiple high profile contracts, including those with the Adani Group and the Indian Army.
In March 2024, DroneAcharya received an order from the Adani Group for DGCA-certified drone pilot training and also won contracts from the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Army for advanced drone training and IT hardware supply for a drone lab in Jammu and Kashmir.
DroneAcharya’s financial performance has reflected its growth trajectory, with consolidated profit after tax nearly doubling to INR 6.2 crore for FY24, up from INR 3.4 crore in the previous year.
