January 17, 2018: A Drone Academy in Kenya would be a reality soon as the civil aviation authority is reviewing the application for school licence by logistics firm Astral Aviation.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the sector regulator, has confirmed receiving Astral’s application; it is being reviewed, reports the Business Daily Africa.

This is the first application since last year’s gazettement of regulations for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).

As of date, Kenya neither has drone pilot nor does it got a training institution for UAV operators. If approved, Kenya will become the second country on the continent after South Africa to have such training.

The news report further says KCAA is reviewing the application quoting KCAA director-general Gilbert Kibe. According to Astral chief executive officer Sanjeev Gadhia, they have identified Lukenya and Limuru as possible school sites.

In the initial days, the academy will use the South African curriculum before the local one is developed, he said, adding that the International Civil Aviation Organisation plans a standard curriculum. Astral’s course will have commercial training, basic and advanced piloting.

It has set the commercial training fees at Sh30,900 ($300), basic training for drone pilots will be between Sh250,000 and Sh500,000 while advanced course will cost Sh500,000 and above.

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