In the mountainous regions of Yunnan Province, southwestern China, a new profession is taking flight. As a drone carrying a 40-kilogram bunch of bananas ascends swiftly from rugged terrain, it signals a shift in how goods are transported and how livelihoods are forged. At the controls is 40-year-old Li Xianquan, who, after two decades behind the wheel of a truck, exchanged his steering wheel for a remote control to become a drone pilot.
Li's transition reflects a broader trend in China, where drone piloting is emerging as a sought-after profession. In 2024, the low-altitude economy soared into focus within tech and investment circles, with innovations like electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft capturing imaginations. Yet, beyond the futuristic allure of flying cars, practical applications of drone technology are making tangible differences in daily life.
Solving Real-World Problems
In Li's hillside orchard, drones are not just technological novelties; they are solutions to longstanding challenges. Bananas grown on Yunnan's steep slopes are prized for their sweetness, but transporting them manually down the mountains often leads to bruising and damage, making them less competitive in the market compared to imports.
\"Without the help of drones, I would never dare to cultivate on such steep mountainous terrain,\" says a local banana grower in Yuxi, Yunnan Province. Yunnan's topography is formidable—over 94% of its land is sloped, with nearly 46% of arable land on slopes steeper than 15 degrees, according to provincial agriculture officials.
By utilizing drones for transportation, farmers like Li and his neighbors can efficiently and safely move their produce, preserving quality and increasing competitiveness.
Unmet Demand for Skilled Operators
The rise of drone technology in agriculture and logistics has created a burgeoning demand for skilled pilots. As of June 2024, China had registered 1.875 million drones, yet only about 225,000 licensed pilots are available to operate them. The gap points to significant opportunities for employment and economic growth.
China's drone market is expected to surpass 600 billion yuan ($81.9 billion) by 2029, growing at a compound annual rate of 25.6%, according to industry reports. With over 15 million couriers in the country, even a partial shift to drone delivery necessitates a substantial workforce of trained operators.
Training and Opportunities
This unmet demand has led to a boom in drone pilot training. Schools like the Shanghai Funtastic Drone Training School report a surge in inquiries. \"Inquiries have jumped from one or two a week to two or three daily,\" says Zeng Yan, an admissions officer at the school. Despite training costs ranging from 9,800 to 15,800 yuan, the promise of attractive salaries—monthly wages between 5,000 to 10,000 yuan—continues to draw applicants.
By 2024, approximately 350 vocational colleges across China offered three-year programs in drone application technology, aiming to cultivate specialized professionals to meet the growing industry needs.
Revitalizing Rural Communities
The drone revolution is not limited to urban centers. In rural areas, especially in provinces like Hubei, drones are opening up new job prospects. In Zigui County, known as the \"hometown of Chinese navel oranges,\" the drone fleet has expanded to over 500, operated by more than 1,000 pilots. Many are young people returning from cities, often referred to as \"new farmers,\" who bring technological skills back to their hometowns.
\"Older farmers used to carry oranges on their backs across the steep terrains—a hard labor that few young people today are willing to do,\" says Wang Jiaxin, who returned to Zigui from Shenzhen. Wang switched from hairdressing to transporting navel oranges with drones in his hometown.
A drone can transport 50 kilograms per trip over 200 meters in just one minute, compared to the 30 minutes it might take a person. The cost efficiency is significant: human carriers charge around 0.8 to 1 yuan per kilogram, while drone transport costs about 0.4 yuan per kilogram, according to logistics firm ZTO Express.
\"My phone kept ringing from dawn to dusk,\" Wang says, recalling the flood of orders during the harvest season.
Expanding Horizons
Beyond agriculture, drones are increasingly used for delivering life-saving organs, medical supplies, inspecting power grids, and even cleaning skyscraper windows. The expanding applications underscore the growing importance of drone pilots in various sectors.
As China's low-altitude economy continues to ascend, opportunities for skilled drone pilots like Li and Wang are set to soar. Their stories illustrate not just a career shift but a transformative movement impacting industries and communities across the nation.
(With input from Xinhua)
Reference(s):
Drone pilots emerge as next sought-after profession in China
cgtn.com
