Exclusive: Taiwan certifies nearly 29,000 drone pilots as industry demand grows
Rising commercial and military needs expected to boost certified operators
Drone pilot training program. (Airline Career Development Association photo)
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Airline Career Development Association Chair Tracy Liao (廖玲惠) said that Taiwan had trained 28,871 certificated drone operators as of October, working in infrastructure inspection, videography, agriculture, and mapping.
According to the Civil Aviation Administration, around 8,000 people take drone license exams annually. To promote wider education, the agency has set up 24 testing sites nationwide and lowered the minimum age for drone operation training from 16 to 14.
More schools and institutions are offering drone operation courses, with some also providing on-site certification testing. In Taipei, Muzha Vocational High School has established a drone education center where students learn basic drone operation, assembly, and practical applications.
Taiwan has registered 528 drone models totaling more than 38,000 drones, with over 23,000 flight operation applications submitted. Among these, 422 UAVs weighing more than 25 kg have passed cybersecurity inspections, and 749 companies are eligible to apply for operational approval.
The administration reported that 90% of drone flight applications in Taiwan are for aerial photography. As the number of registered UAVs continues to rise annually, demand for certified drone pilots is expected to grow accordingly.
Training program
Drone operator training combines theory and hands-on instruction. The theory component covers basic flight principles, aviation regulations, airspace management, meteorology, communications, and applications within the drone industry. Practical training includes line-of-sight flight, takeoff and landing, hovering, safety inspections, and emergency procedures.
The administration said that key flight regulations include bans on drone operations in no-fly zones, such as areas near airports, highways, railways, and metro systems. Unless authorized, operators must keep drones within visual line of sight, avoid night flights and crowded areas, and operate no more than two UAVs at a time. Any flight incidents must be reported within 24 hours.
Taiwan Energy Co., a UAV pilot training and drone design firm, has trained navy units, firefighters, police, schools, and military veterans. The company said that its advanced courses include drone assembly and maintenance, first-person view drone operations with obstacle navigation in simulated environments, and disaster-response drills. Some of the skills are required for advanced certification testing.
The company noted that drone trainees may face parallax challenges, where the drone's camera view does not align with its actual movement. Instructors typically begin with basic exercises and provide repeated guidance until trainees achieve proficiency.
Yu Hsin-hsien (余信賢), a drone instructor in Taiwan, said that basic drone flight can rely on GPS assistance, but more advanced flight must be performed without GPS support, requiring the pilot's skill to keep the UAV stable. He added that wind often affects drone flight, making it challenging to maintain balance and steady hovering.
A drone trainee learns to stabilize drone flight. (Airline Career Development Association photo)
The association said that drone pilots must adapt to different missions. For agriculture, operators must plan flight paths, manage payloads, ensure even spraying, and fly safely on slopes.
To become a drone pilot in agriculture, individuals must pass the pesticide spraying technician certificate issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, in addition to the certification from the aviation administration.
Infrastructure inspections require stable flight and proper camera operation. Night flights and search-and-rescue missions depend on sensors such as infrared and thermal cameras, which require specialized equipment skills.
Beyond-visual-line-of-sight flight requires companies or institutions to apply to the aviation administration, and must be conducted by a pilot holding a professional operation certificate, with assistance from a pilot holding a basic certificate. The maximum flight altitude for drones is generally 120 meters above ground level or water surface.
Drone pilot certification
Taiwan's drone pilot certification system is divided into basic and professional licenses, and applicants must be at least 18 years old. Drones weighing less than 2 kg are exempt from mandatory licensing.
A basic license can be obtained by passing a theory examination only and allows operators to fly drones weighing between 2 and 15 kg. A professional license requires candidates to pass theory and practical examinations and permits the operation of drones weighing more than 15 kg. Applicants for a professional license must also hold a basic license for at least one month before taking the professional exam.
Practical examinations consist of basic and advanced operational tests. The basic test assesses pre-flight checks, takeoff and landing, hovering, directional flight, maintaining set altitudes, figure-eight maneuvers, and emergency handling. The advanced test builds on these skills and also evaluates candidates' ability to plan and execute flight missions.
Both licenses are valid for three years. Basic license holders can renew their certification within three months of expiration without retesting, while professional license holders must undergo a medical examination and retest as part of the renewal process.
The association added that individuals seeking to become certification examiners must hold a professional license, pass the advanced practical test, and complete training courses organized by the aviation administration.
Pilot salaries
The association explained that drone flight schedules vary depending on the mission and work environment. Filming for movies and commercials is usually project-based, infrastructure inspections often require long-term engagements, agricultural work is typically seasonal, and rescue missions are conducted as needed.
Taiwan Energy added that as drone applications continue to expand — particularly in military, rescue, and disaster-response operations — pilots may face long working hours and occasional night flights.
Salaries for general drone pilots range from NT$30,000 (US$930) to NT$50,000 per month, primarily for work in aerial photography, inspections, or agriculture. Professional operators can earn between NT$15,000 and NT$25,000 per mission, while those with advanced skills in photography, video editing, and data analysis can earn up to NT$100,000 per project.
Industry transformation
Taiwan Energy said that drone technology is driving transformation across industries, including logistics, agriculture, and disaster response. However, it warned that widespread drone deployment could introduce new regulatory challenges in areas such as airspace management, operational standards, data security, and privacy.
The company noted that commercial and military drone skills have significant overlap, urging the government to establish a framework that allows commercially certified operators to support certain military missions. It also called for stronger public-private collaboration, with companies providing technical support and the government offeringregulatory support.
The association emphasized the need to expand the number of certified drone pilots, noting that there are currently no government restrictions on trainees' background, physical fitness, or vision requirements for becoming drone operators.
The agency highlighted the strategic importance of drones, ranging from reconnaissance and surveillance to autonomous drone swarms capable of suppressing air defenses. It suggested that future training could place greater emphasis on logistics operations, search-and-rescue missions, and autonomous patrol capabilities.
Military UAV training
The Ministry of National Defense is expanding its drone fleet, increasing operator training, and constructing new training facilities to enhance defense readiness and develop domestic UAV talent. The initiative aligns with the government's plan to procure 48,750 drones from next year through 2027 under a NT$50 billion procurement program focused on FPV and reconnaissance UAVs.
The Airline Career Development Association added that most military drone operators are trained through private institutions, while training for military-grade UAVs is provided by personnel dispatched by the manufacturers contracted by the ministry.
The ministry has established an Army drone training center in Tainan's Baihe District that incorporates courses offered by private institutions. Using scientific screening methods, instructors assess trainees' hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, directional judgment, and performance in tethered drone exercises to select soldiers suited for drone operations.
The center offers a four-week basic operations program that covers drone structure, flight safety, major aviation regulations, and risk assessment. It also provides training in drone operations, including takeoff, hovering, and maneuvering, and assists trainees in obtaining operator licenses issued by the aviation administration.
Reservists learn to operate drones. (Reuters, Ann Wang photo)
To test whether trainees can integrate operational skills with tactical applications, they must pass a flight test that simulates a battlefield environment. Examiners assign designated reconnaissance targets, requiring trainees to conduct surveillance missions, transmit imagery, and mark coordinates using the drone.
The ministry said the center plans to train over 1,000 certificated UAV pilots next year. The Army will buy fixed-wing, rotary, and vertical takeoff-and-landing drones to enhance capabilities. It will also purchase drones under 2 kg with high-resolution cameras, at least 15 minutes of flight endurance, and automatic return functions for training.
Starting this year, the ministry has incorporated a UAV operations program into the Army, Navy, and Air Force officer academies. More than 2,000 recruits have participated in the eight-week program, which covers flight principles, drone structure, assembly, simulator practice, and hands-on flight operations.
Soldiers learning drone structure. (Taiwan Military Academy photo)
Since the second half of this year, the ministry has also introduced a two-hour drone operation training course for the reserve forces to provide them with basic operational skills. In August 2024, the Army purchased 1,485 Hummer 2 drones manufactured by Coretronic Intelligent Robotics, and has assigned 450 of them to reserve soldiers for training use. The Army also offers spherical drones to soldiers who are operating drones for the first time.
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