Hyderabad: What was once largely a hobby for enthusiasts is increasingly turning into a specialised skill, with people of different ages and backgrounds taking up drone flying for everything from aero sports to filmmaking, land surveying and defence applications. More than 50 enthusiasts gathered on Sunday at Nadirgul Airfield, bringing machines ranging from tiny toy drones and multi-rotor drones to fixed-wing aircraft and FPV (First Person View) drones, which allow pilots to see what the drone sees through a live camera feed.The meet-up, organised by the Telangana State Aviation Academy (TSAA), brought together drone enthusiasts with varying levels of experience. “I have been flying RC aircraft for 12 years, starting as a hobby before moving into DRDO projects. From building small models to integrating laser and radar payloads on UAVs, I have hands-on experience. For me, flying is about pushing indigenous technology forward and inspiring the next generation of aerospace enthusiasts,” said Saqlain Mehdi, 30.While there were experienced drone pilots like Saqlain, some participants were still getting comfortable with the controls. Among them was an 11-year-old FPV flyer. “I have started my flying journey about a year ago and I’m looking forward to taking part in international competitions,” said Geeth Reddy, who was appreciated by his instructors. “Geeth has a natural skill and a very good cognitive ability to fly the FPV drone. He is quite aggressive in his approach too,” they said.Dinakar Devireddy, head of drone pilot and training at the centre, said, “People new to drone flying need not feel overwhelmed by the technology. Training can start with basic controls and gradually progress to advanced flying, including FPV operations and mission-based exercises. While we are not training people for military exercises, the growing use of drones in conflicts worldwide shows that these are highly transferable skills.”For many participants, flying goes beyond hobby and is emerging as a career prospect. FPV instructor Abhishek Shetty said, “The growing use of drones across industries is opening up opportunities for people with specialised flying skills. Fields such as filmmaking, GIS mapping, event management and military operations are among the areas where trained drone pilots are finding career prospects.”Pointing to the growing interest in flying and how accessible it has become, Prabhat Kumar, a fixed wing flying instructor, said, “The equipment can be expensive, but many components are now available at much lower costs. Earlier, building the aircraft was a major part of the hobby, but today most flyers use ready-made models made from imported moulded foam. Radios, servos, batteries and other components have also become more affordable, making the hobby more accessible.”
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