There is a new drone training school in South Africa, and this one will be heavily biased towards the application of drone technology in the mining industry.
The school was opened by mining technology company Dwyka Mining Services, through its innovation, research and training unit, Dwyka Labs, which did it through a partnership with mining giant Tharisa Minerals.
The school will be located at Tharisa’s premises in the North-West province.
“We believe, and are encouraged by the support of Tharisa Minerals, that Dwyka Mining Services and Dwyka Labs specifically, can bridge the gap to elevate human potential on mine sites with technology and this is only the beginning,” said Dwyka Mining Services CEO Jamie van Schoor.
“By also bringing industry players like UDS (UAV & Drone Solutions) as our Aviation Training Organisation (ATO) approved training partner and other contributing stakeholders together, we combine technology, teams and the terrain offered by Tharisa Minerals to make learning real once the theory has been covered.”
The academy has an initial cohort of 20 trainees who, upon graduation, would be expected to be absorbed into various mining industrial settings where their expertise will be applied: especially in mine survey operations, security operations as well as mine planning.
Chosen from the community in the vicinity of Tharisa’s platinum mining operations near Rustenburg in the North-West, the new apprentices will also be assessed with a view to refine the future curriculum.
“Our approach to this training is supportive and focused,” explained Tharisa Minerals Group senior manager: learning and development Caroline Raphoto.
“Engaging our fence-line and broader neighbouring communities is central to the future sustainability of this operation and others as the group expands operations at Karo in Zimbabwe. When technology is adopted and understood through genuine engagement, it becomes a competitive advantage for the mine and the community.”
As further explained by van Schoor, mines are increasingly adopting robotics and the use of uncrewed vehicles, in both the air, ground and underground operations; and these vehicles will need operators – pilots, in the case of drones.
In the area around the mine, there is a reported 60 percent unemployment rate for young people aged between 15 to 24 years (of course factoring in the fact that maybe the kids aged fifteen to eighteen are presumably in school).
The Drone Academy is ultimately viewed as an additional pathway that will provide practical qualifications applicable to various scenarios in the wider job marketplace, as well as furthering skills development on the mine itself.