Drone Flyers Academy Receives Grant for Workforce Development

industries and seeing my students achieve successful careers, I created Drone Flyers Academy specifically targeted at delivering these skills to underserved and socioeconomically challenged individuals and communities,” said Skip Fredricks, Founder and CEO of DFA. “It’s so rewarding to know that graduates of this program are tripling their earning potential, sometimes even more, by having an FAA Certified Drone Pilot’s License.” drone flying careers has been very interesting,” said Catharine Reed, Vice President of Charitable Programs for the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation. “It’s wonderful that Skip decided to base this nonprofit in the Coachella Valley where many people here can benefit.”

Palm Desert, Calif. – Drone Flyers Academy (DFA) is the latest nonprofit organization to benefit from a $25,000 Coachella Valley Spotlight

Before creating DFA, Fredricks worked for more than 25 years as a videographer in film and television, producing award-winning content for various media and entertainment companies. Fredricks transferred these skills into the field of drone cinematography, where he continued grant presented by the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation. The grant will provide equipment that will expand and enhance the growing workforce development the nonprofit organization provides.

The Coachella Valley Spotlight grant will expand DFA’s fleet of training drones and provide practice drones, safety helmets and vests for each participant, allowing students to continue training at home once the course is complete. Funds will also help DFA establish live stream flight lessons from the field to the computers and tablets, expanding training options. In addition, Fredricks plans to train more instructors and expand the DFA courses to more Coachella Valley Cities.

“Drone video and photos are in demand more and more. This program is giving people a jumpstart to an exciting career,” said Jerry Upham, General Manager of Gulf California Broadcast Company, which owns and operates KESQ News Channel 3 and KPSP CBS Local 2.

“After witnessing the growing demand for drone operators in multiple working in the private sector and quickly discovered a need for more certified drone operators and trainers. In 2016, he began serving as an instructor at the LATTC (Los Angeles Trade Technical College), Unmanned Vehicle University and Grossmont College.

“Learning about the potential of

Throughout February, Drone Flyers Academy was featured on News Channel 3’s “Eye on the Desert” in public service announcements and on kesq.com. To learn more about DFA, visit www. droneflyersacademy.com.

Source: Cara Van Dijk

The number of people killed by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria has risen to more than 50,000.

Turkey alone recorded 44 218 dead, the Turkish disaster agency Afad announced on Friday. From Syria, 5900 dead were reported last. Only on Thursday, a magnitude

5 shook the southeastern Turkish province of Hatay. The Kandilli earthquake monitoring center reported this. The report said the quake’s epicenter was in the Defne district. Initially, no casualties or damage were reported. The province was already scarred by the devastating doublehorror earthquake two and a half weeks ago.

The tremors of magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 on February 6 have been followed by 8550 aftershocks, according to the Turkish disaster agency Afad. According to the report, several of them had a magnitude of more than 6. As a result, more than 164,000 buildings have either been severely damaged or collapsed and urgently need to be demolished, according to the Turkish government.