Uganda Flying Labs Gets Hands-on Experience on Drone Mission in Tanzania

A few weeks into the Flying Labs family, Uganda Flying Labs was invited by the Tanzania Flying Labs team to take part in a drone-based project aimed at developing a map to effectively manage land use and distribution of Certificates of Customary Rights of Occupancy (CCRO) in Meatu District, Simiyu Region.

The first phase of the project was to acquire high resolution imagery in the three villages of Nghoboko, Sanga Itinje, and Mwamatiga -- an operation that lasted over 10 days with a 5-people team from Uganda Flying Labs and Tanzania Flyings Labs.

Several meetings with the stakeholders (Meatu District Council, regional police, army officials and community members) were held to identify and discuss the objectives of the project before its official launch in the presence of the Regional Commissioner.

Once in the field, the team made over 75 flights with eBee+ drones, each operated by a drone pilot and a spotter. The operation was eye-opening for the Uganda Flying Labs, as it served as a boot camp to fully understand requirements and factors to consider when carrying out a drone mission.

Setting up a drone flight: Mission planning with eMotion was a major learning experience for Uganda Flying Labs, where multiple variables such as distance, coverage, wind speed, home-way points and landing points had to be taken into account before flying.

Drone landing: Techniques for proper landing, such as properly set landing height and location as well as having a stand-by abort system and protocol in place, were crucial for the success of the mission.

Hydration: The team stood in the scorching sun for several hours, making water and snacks an essential item on any mission's checklist to ensure an optimal performance.

We would like to thank Tanzania Flying Labs and Meatu District for allowing their colleagues in Uganda to get hands-on experience with this project. Uganda Flying Labs is now in the process of transferring newly acquired skills and knowledge to its own local team to deploy future missions.