China - November 12, 2024 Drone pilots in high demand in China (Voice_over) In China, where drones are being used in a wide range of scenarios, drone pilots remain an in-demand profession. Job postings for skilled drone operators line the walls at a training center in the southern tech hub Shenzhen City where more and more companies are looking for qualified drone pilots. (Sound_bite) Xu Jingbing, President, drone pilot training agency in Shenzhen: "Last year, a logistics company came to us for 160 drone pilots. And this year, another firm in emergency response asked for nearly 60 pilots specialized in Vertical Take-Off and Landing drones." (Voice_over) According to the drone regulations that took effect at the start of the year, small, medium and large unmanned aerial vehicles require qualifications to operate. (Sound_bite) Wang Wei, drone pilot trainee: "I work for a company in railway equipment management. We mainly use drones to inspect railway bridges, tunnels, and other infrastructure." (Voice_over) Data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China shows there were more than 1.8 million drones registered nationwide as of June this year. But, only around a quarter of a million people hold drone operator licenses. Authorities estimate that the country currently faces a shortage of around one million drone pilots. [Restriction: No access Chinese mainland]