Careers Spotlight: Drone Pilot

Being paid to fly a drone sounds like a dream job for many people, especially when typical salaries for drone pilots are about £35,000.  With projected growth of about 15% each year for the next six to seven years, the commercial drone industry is one of the fastest growing and most in demand sectors world wide

So how do you become a drone pilot?

STAGE 1 - Purchase a Drone

Purchase your drone (if you haven’t already) there are many different UAS (unmanned aircraft system) on the market, just remember to purchase the right drone for the type of operations you intend to undertake.

STAGE 2 - Flyer & Operator ID

Register yourself as a UAS Operator and gain a Flyer ID – it is illegal to fly a drone over 250g without this. The UAS Operator ID must be renewed annually and currently costs £10. To gain a Flyer ID you must sit and pass an online education package once achieved your flyer ID will last for 5 years.

STAGE 3 -  GVC Course

Complete the six online training modules, accessible anywhere provided you have a mobile phone/tablet/laptop/desktop computer and internet access.

STAGE 4 -Classroom Based Theory

Complete the theory lessons

STAGE 5 - Operations Manual

Prepare your Operations Manual. Once you have completed this template based on the type of operations you intend to conduct, a member of the team will verify your first draft informing you of any advised/required changes to satisfy the CAA requirements and ensure a smooth OA application.

STAGE 6  - Flying Experience

Gain a minimum of 2 hours flying practice with your aircraft in an area that satisfies the requirements of the A3 Sub-category (a large open area greater than 150m away from any residential, recreational, commercial, and industrial areas.) Make sure you accurately log your flying hours in an electronic logbook (this could be an online app or simply an excel spreadsheet). If you are unsure where to start or are a little bit nervous you could book a day’s 1:1 Flight Training to get you started, the instructor will tailor the training to your current skill level and experience and can also include a mock flight assessment if requested.

STAGE 7 - Flight Assessment

Arrange a date and time to sit your practical Flight Assessment.  Prior to attending your flight assessment, you will have been expected to produce a desktop survey of the area identifying any risks in and around the vicinity. Once on site you will then progress to completing your On-site survey and risk assessment. During the practical flying element of the assessment, you will be directed by the flight assessor, full detail of the flight assessment process will be sent to you prior to attendance. You are entitled to one free resit (if you need it).

STAGE 8 - Certification

Once you have passed the Flight Assessment you will then receive your GVC certificate.

STAGE 9 - Application to the CAA

You can now submit your application to the CAA to apply for your Operational Authorisation, Applications can be made by clicking here. The CAA will require a copy of your Operations Manual, proof of 2 hours flying experience in the previous three months and a copy of your GVC certificate.

STAGE 10 - Operational Authorisation Approval

Once approved by the CAA you will receive your Operational Authorisation via email – for new applications this will be a PDRA 01 – (Pre-defined risk assessment) as detailed within CAP 722, this will be valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

If you plan to operate outside of these conditions you can apply to the CAA for an Enhanced Operational Authorisation, this will require an Operational Safety Case (OSC) that is far more detailed than your current Operations Manual and must outline exactly how and where you intend to operate. The application also costs a lot more, if you require further advice on Enhanced Operational Authorisations, the RUAS team will be on hand to offer guidance.

If you want to learn more about working as a drone pilot click on the links below

Boosting your CV

In this section we have looked at how boost your CV.  A good CV will get you noticed and invited for an interview, but no further.  The key to a successful interview lies in soft skills.

What are soft skills?

Soft skills relate to how you work. Soft skills include interpersonal (people) skills, communication skills, listening skills, time management, and empathy, among others. They are among the top skills employers seek in the candidates they hire, because soft skills are important for just about every job.

Over the next few editions of the careers newsletter we will look at different soft skills and how you can improve them

Help for Parents and Carers

We firmly believe that parents and carers have a pivotal role to play when it comes to helping students make decisions about the future.  That said, it can be hard to know where to find up to date information that is relevant and helpful.  With this in mind we are pleased to announce the launch of the  'Careers Guidance for Parents' section of the academy's website.  Here you will find the answers to commonly asked questions and find links to helpful websites if you need further information about specific topics.

The new section can be found in the Learning and Curriculum section of the website or by following the link below

https://www.hertswoodacademy.org/674/careers-guidance-for-parents 

Apprenticeships Guide for Parents

To celebrate the start National Apprenticeship Week, the National Audit Office are launching a brand new Apprenticeships Guide for parents and carers – and it’s free for you to download now. The new digital guide is packed full of vital information to help you guide your child as they decide whether an apprenticeship could be for them. The guide contains insider insights from employers, interviews with today’s apprentices – and in-depth information about apprenticeship programmes across 17 industries. 

To download a copy of the guide please click on the link below 

mailchi.mp/successatschool/apprenticeships-guide-launch-parents 

Current Opportunities

This month we have an opportunity for students who are considering a career in medicine to attend a virtual talk hosted by Lincolnshire NHS.  In addition there are a number of talks linked to National Apprenticeship Week.

Should I become a doctor?

Lincolnshire Training Hub, a part of Health Education England, is holding Should I become a Doctor on the 19th of February.

This presentation, held by medical students, is designed to help Year 9 – 11 students decide whether ‘Medicine’, or becoming a doctor, is for them. It could also be helpful for anyone else seeking information about the Medicine Application Process – including parents and teachers. Please note this course will touch on the basics of Medicine, and more detailed events for Year 12 students around the application follow throughout the year. Please reference our timetable on our website for more information.

It is will be held on the 19th of February 7-8:30pm on Zoom. Please fill in the sign-up form below to receive the log in details: https://forms.gle/srQ2wYveyvu7Fi2A6

The application form will close once all spaces are filled, therefore we encourage signing up ASAP.

The evening will include:

-    How do I know medicine is right for me?

-    The Application Process

-    The Medical Degree / Life as a Medic

-    Foundation Years (Post Degree)

The discussion will be led by our Student Ambassadors, who are all in varying stages of their medical degrees. There will be time at the end to ask questions.

If you have any more questions, please contact molly.butcher@nhs.net

Thank you,

Molly Butcher

Future Doctor Lead

Lincolnshire Training Hub

NHS / HEE

National Apprenticeship Week Seminars

Upcoming live talks to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week taking place from 5th to 11th February. This year we are joined by amazing STEM Ambassadors with a variety of live careers with a wide range of STEM industry sectors. The theme for National Apprenticeship Week 2024 is once again “Skills for Life”. Below provides an overview of the live talks available throughout the week and how to sign up:

Monday 5th February from 8.40am to 9.10am

Guidance to support an apprenticeship application process and interview by Gatwick Airport

Hear from STEM Ambassador Dave, Apprentice Development Lead at Gatwick Airport who will be sharing his expertise to assist applicants to complete an apprenticeship application. He will also give some useful hints and tips to aid the application and interview processes.

To book your place please visit: https://thestemhub.org.uk/events/more-information/guidance-to-support-an-apprenticeship-application-process-interview

Tuesday 6th February from 8.40am to 9.10am

Why study for an apprenticeship within the construction industry? By Kier Construction

Join STEM Ambassador Shannon, a South East Quantity Surveying Kier Construction apprentice who has recently completed her degree apprenticeship in Quantity Surveying. Shannon will talk about construction as a viable career path for all genders and how diverse it is as an industry that provides numerous career opportunities.

To book your place please visit: https://thestemhub.org.uk/events/more-information/why-study-for-an-apprenticeship-within-the-construction-industry

Wednesday 7th February from 8.40am to 9.10am

Pioneering Futures: Apprenticeships at NPL

During this talk you will have the opportunity to hear from apprentices from the National Physical Laboratory which offer a number of different apprenticeships in science, engineering and business administration. The apprentices will discuss what it is like to be an apprentice at NPL, what they have learnt and what foundations they have built for their future.

To book your place please visit: https://thestemhub.org.uk/events/more-information/pioneering-futures-apprenticeships-at-npl

Thursday 8th February from 8.40am to 9.10am

Considering an apprenticeship in healthcare with the NHS

Join STEM Ambassador Abigail, an East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust apprentice, in her final year within healthcare, specifically in clinical physiology within neurophysiology, a branch of physiology and neuroscience which investigates the function of both the peripheral (nerves) and central (brain and spinal cord) nervous system. Abigail will talk about neurophysiology, what her apprenticeship involves, how her time is split between working and studying, how she came to study neurophysiology and what she did prior to this.

To book your place please visit: https://thestemhub.org.uk/events/more-information/considering-an-apprenticeship-in-healthcare-with-the-nhs-secondary-students

Friday 9th February from 8.40am to 9.10am

Routes into Rail with Network Rail Apprentices

Join Piya, an IT apprentice and Katie, an apprentice within Finance, to hear about their respective journeys as Network Rail apprentices to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week. An apprenticeship at Network Rail can set you on the rails for a career full of possibilities. From engineering to finance, business to IT, as one of the rail company’s apprentices, you’ll earn a competitive salary, while studying towards qualifications. You’ll also play your part in delivering projects that matter to families, friends, colleagues, and businesses across the UK.

To book your place please visit: https://thestemhub.org.uk/events/more-information/routes-into-rail-with-network-rail-apprentices

We hope you can join us.

VIRTUAL EMPLOYER ENCOUNTERS

The Careers and Enterprise Company are running a webinar on 14th December from 4:30pm to 5:30pm on how to develop a career as film director.  To learn more please click on the link below.

Virtual Employer Encounters