The National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) of the Netherlands said it has initiated the first training center in Europe for operators of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
In collaboration with the University of Tilburg, NLR said it will use the center to conduct research into the possibilities for UAS operator education and training. The center will be located at an aviation campus on the Brabant province of the Netherlands.
“There are increasingly advanced unmanned aircraft in the air space, carrying out both very minor and very complex tasks. Hence, there is an increasing demand for operators. These operators must be able to operate the ‘control stick’ safely and professionally, with both feet on the ground,” said NLR in a statement.
NLR expects the training center to be fully operational beginning in 2014.