Universitas Brawijaya and B One Corp Trial Drone Pilot Academy Curriculum for Students with Disabilities

Universitas Brawijaya (UB), in collaboration with B One Corp, launched a trial phase for the Drone Pilot Academy program specifically designed for students with disabilities on Monday, March 9, 2026. This initiative aims to validate training modules and ensure the readiness of supporting infrastructure before the official certification program is opened to the public.

The trial involved a team of instructors, two pioneering student participants, and staff from Universitas Brawijaya’s disability services. The primary focus of the session included testing teaching module adaptations, navigation simulations, and identifying specific requirements tailored to the diverse needs of the participants. This phase serves as a prerequisite before students undergo national certification from the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia and meet international certification standards.

Technical Validation and Adaptive Inclusive Navigation

Hamonangan J.K., Commercial Supervisor at B One Corp, explained that adjustments were made to the instructional methodology without compromising aviation safety standards. He emphasized the importance of a deep analysis of drone pilot tasks in the field.

“One of the points we discussed was regarding the communication aspect of drone piloting. For example, for Deaf pilots, we need to consider if there are specific sectors where the tasks do not rely heavily on auditory cues. This is vital to ensure the involvement of individuals with diverse capabilities,” he stated.

Captain Danang, the lead drone instructor for the trial, added that the primary goal is to ensure ergonomic controller aspects and device accessibility. According to Danang, competency standards still adhere to current airspace regulations, ensuring that graduates possess technical qualifications on par with other professional drone pilots.

From the participant’s perspective, Fadhly, a Deaf student involved in the trial, highlighted the importance of mastering modules and instruments in the early stages.

“There are many technical aspects that are crucial to understand. For Deaf students like myself, while the modules are extensive, the practicalities become much easier to grasp once we move into simulations,” Fadhly remarked.

Career Projections and Standardizing High-Tech Vocational Training

The curriculum covers the mastery of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems, flight safety procedures, and aerial photography data processing. Mastery of these technical skills is projected to open vast career opportunities for people with disabilities in strategic sectors that require high data accuracy.

Targeted career paths for graduates include Land Mapping (GIS) operators, electricity and building infrastructure inspectors, and disaster area mapping specialists. These sectors rely more on data analysis and navigational precision rather than conventional physical mobility in the field.

The program also aims to increase the professional bargaining power of students with disabilities in the job market. By obtaining official certification, graduates will have the legal standing to work for construction consultancy firms, the agricultural sector, or the media industry, all of which currently require certified drone operators.

Universitas Brawijaya stated that the results of this trial will form the basis for evaluating and drafting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for inclusive drone training. The evaluation will cover training duration, instructor-to-student ratios, and the availability of assistive devices or tactile modifications on control units. Through this collaboration, it is hoped that a new standard for accessible, high-tech vocational training will be established.