SOUTH Yorkshire Police officers have got off to a flying start at \u2018drone school\u2019.<\/p>\n
The new intensive week-long course will teach the budding police pilots, drawn from different divisions across the region, how to fly the machines to help colleagues deal with major incidents, search operations, crowd monitoring and to carry out warrants.<\/p>\n
Once training is complete, the 19 officers will be able to provide 24\/7 drone aerial cover across the region.<\/p>\n
This week marked the start of their formal training, but they have been flying the unmanned craft for the past month under the guidance of existing drone operators.<\/p>\n
Trainee pilot PC Mike Ramsden from Operational Support\u2019s Road Policing Unit said: \u201cThere is a lot to learn and get your head around, the first morning alone was very intense, but it\u2019s exciting and so good to be learning something new.\u201d<\/p>\n
So far, the officers have ticked off air law, navigation, airmanship and airspace management among other topics.<\/p>\n
Existing drone operator PC Gordon Sitch from the Airport Policing Group said the training was a great opportunity for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cDay one is a lot to take on board, there were lots of very serious faces \u2013 which is good, it\u2019s serious stuff,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a great opportunity for these officers, but it\u2019s also a big responsibility going ahead and it\u2019s important they concentrate and work hard this week. I think we witnessed lots of minds being blown today\u2026they\u2019ll be revising hard tonight\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Follow the officers\u2019 progress on Twitter via #SYPdrones #droneschool<\/p>\n