Students take flight at drone training center

Located on Changzhou Island at the mouth of the Pearl River, the school has become well-known in the industry and has attracted students from the prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing to come to conduct research, Wen said.

In addition to the parcel and food delivery industries, drone operators can also provide services for maritime, fire protection, law enforcement, and government departments and agencies. They also conduct drone evaluation, work for agricultural enterprises such as orchards and gardens, and carry out emergency responses, said Wen.

"Many students can earn more than 10,000 yuan a month in Guangzhou by operating drones," he said.

As for some media reports that drone operators can earn as much as 30,000 yuan a month, Wen clarified that such high salaries are only for operators with special professional backgrounds such as surveying and remote sensing.

"With more companies entering the low-altitude industry, the demand for drone operators will continue to surge. Drone operating certification is undoubtedly the key to entering the industry," he said.

Learning how to operate drones takes a long time, Wen said, adding that it demands a lot of training in order for students to overcome numerous difficulties.

"Students first learn with small drones at the school, as large drones pose a certain level of danger when people operate them," he said.

A student needs to receive more than one month of training to pass the exams and be granted a certificate for operating drones, Wen said. With free accommodation provided for students from outside the city, the school charges tuition fees of around 10,000 yuan for each monthlong course.