On 13 and 14 October 2026, DIGIHUB held a basic training course for pilots of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), organised in partnership with GDR Systems. The two-day programme combined theoretical preparation in the DIGIHUB training room at Central Park Burgas with practical flights at an outdoor site, giving participants a solid foundation for operating drones safely and in line with the regulations.
Interest in the training was high and all places were filled. This confirms the growing need for qualified drone operators in business and the public sector, where unmanned systems are increasingly used for aerial filming, inspections of buildings and infrastructure, 3D scanning, photogrammetry and monitoring.
Day one: regulations, airspace and safety
The first day was dedicated to the theoretical knowledge every operator needs before taking a drone into the air. Participants covered:
- the European regulatory framework for unmanned aircraft systems (Regulations 2018/1139, 2019/945 and 2019/947) and the obligations of operators;
- airspace classes, geographical zones, restrictions and no-fly areas;
- human factors: perception, fatigue, stress and decision-making during flight;
- drone design, control software, communication and navigation;
- safe handling, charging, storage and transport of batteries and equipment.
The training was delivered by Zhivko Ivanov, a systems engineer at GDR Systems and a certified operator in the A1/A3 and A2 categories. He has more than nine years of experience with drones in aerial filming, 3D scanning, photogrammetry and inspections, which allowed him to support the theory with many examples from real projects and to answer participants’ specific questions.
Day two: hands-on practice at the flight site
The second day took place entirely outdoors. Participants went through the full cycle of a flight, from preparation to post-landing analysis:
- pre-flight checks of propellers, batteries, the remote controller link and calibration, as well as assessment of the site and weather conditions;
- take-off, hovering and basic manoeuvres;
- route flights, capturing an object, and responding to signal loss and simulated emergencies;
- landing, post-flight inspection, flight analysis and stowing the equipment.
The instructor demonstrated each exercise while participants observed the drone’s behaviour in the air and asked questions in real time. The practical session reinforced what was learned on the first day and showed what responsible operation of unmanned equipment looks like in an urban environment.
Feedback and next steps towards certification
The training concluded with a closing session in which each participant received individual feedback and guidance on the next steps towards certification as a drone operator.
DIGIHUB continues with practical training for business
The training is part of the services of the European Digital Innovation Hub EDIH DIGIHUB, which supports small and medium-sized enterprises and the public sector in Southeast Bulgaria in their digital transformation. Participation was free of charge for DIGIHUB clients, and registering as a client is also free.
We thank all participants and the GDR Systems team for the excellent cooperation.
If you would like to take part in the next edition of the training, write to us at events@digihub.bg and we will add you to the list of interested participants.
