Job titles of the future: Delivery drone air traffic controller
The moment Trevor Wischnewsky heard that drones were delivering pizza and sushi around his Texas neighborhood, his mind was made up. “It was super fascinating,” he says. “I just immediately wanted to be a part of it.” Wischnewsky is now an RPIC, or “remote pilot in command,” at a company called FlyTrex. An RPIC is…
Trevor Wischnewsky, an RPIC or "remote pilot in command" at FlyTrex, was drawn to the burgeoning drone delivery industry. An RPIC serves as an air traffic controller for fleets of drones, ensuring their safe passage within a three-mile radius. Wischnewsky, who is already certified as a drone pilot and undergoing commercial pilot training, coordinates drone traffic with competitors like Zipline, Amazon, and Alphabet’s Wing.
The role requires a strong aviation background and a week-long FAA-approved training course. Despite not piloting the drones, Wischnewsky monitors their operations from FlyTrex’s operations center, using GPS, lasers, and sensors. Collaborating with the technology, he ensures the drones maintain safe distances and operate within UTM, a network facilitating real-time tracking and collision avoidance for autonomous drones.
Wischnewsky’s ability to remain calm under pressure is crucial, particularly when managing up to 10 drones simultaneously. In a stressful day, he had to intervene when a sudden wind change threatened an errant ice cream cake. As drones become more prevalent in the delivery landscape, the demand for skilled RPICs like Wischnewsky is expected to grow.
Written by urgent.news from MIT Technology Review's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
