NQ Aerovation plans new agricultural drone pilot school in Bowen

An award-winning Queensland business plans to build a training school for the next farming revolution — and they’ve got the tech to drop wasps, pesticides and more with precision.

Agricultural drones are changing the future of farms and driving a huge demand for trained pilots, so a Queensland business has made plans to build a training school for the next farming revolution.

As agricultural drones revolutionise farms across the country, a Queensland business is off to a flying start with plans to build a training school for pilots.

NQ Aerovation was founded in the Whitsundays by Luke Jurgens and Gillian Russell as a drone photography business in 2016, before adapting their aerial skills for agriculture two years in.

Mr Jurgens’ family have been tomato growers in Bowen for the last 45 years, and the couple soon realised the potential for licenced drone pilots in the agricultural industry.

They designed a hopper so a drone could release beneficial insects like E.hayati and trichogramma wasps from on high, before moving on to pesticide spraying devices.

A NQ Aerovation drone over a tomato field. Photo: Contributed

“There were quite a few growers at the start who sat on the fence about the whole idea, but after they saw the results from other growers … they jumped on board,” Mr Jurgens said.

Drones make short shrift of what is usually manual work, but aspiring pilots require specialised training —and sponsorship by trained pilots to be licenced.

“We used to have to go down to Brisbane for the training, now a lot of it is done online but there’s still a practical component of that training,” Ms Russell said.

NQ Aerovation CEO Gillian Russell and director Luke Jurgens at the Bowen Gumlu Growers Association Gala Dinner 2023. Photo: Contributed

“We’ve got to make sure these guys can do certain manoeuvres with the drones … everything from basic maintenance to safety aspects to even where you can fly the drone or how high.

“The demand for pilots has just increased considerably (and) we need people here to support the growers.”

NQ Aerovation has now submitted plans to the Whitsunday Regional Council to develop a bricks and mortar educational facility for potential pilots as well as expand their servicing workshop.

NQ Aerovation agricultural drones are changing how farms are run. Photo: Contributed

The business is already a drone dealership, repair centre, and online training provider guided by their partnership with Civil Aviation Safety Authority approved training body FPV Australia.

“We want to be like a John Deere for drones,” Mr Jurgens said.

The couple also have rapidly expanding business with the mining industry, with drones able to assess stockpiles, revegetation, or contour mapping in a way that is “obviously safer and faster and more accurate” than traditional methods.

NQ Aerovation director and chief remote pilot Luke Jurgens. Photo: Contributed

NQ Aerovation was lauded at the Bowen Gumlu Growers Association Gala Dinner when they were presented with the Industry Recognition Award by state Agriculture Minister Mark Furner.

Bowen Gumlu Growers CEO Ry Collins described the company as “visionary” for “helping pave the way forward for our local industry to embrace the tremendous opportunity offered through technology”.

NQ Aerovation director Luke Jurgens receiving the Industry Recognition Award from Bowen Gumlu Growers CEO Ry Collins (left) and the state Minister for Agriculture Mark Furner (right) in 2023. Photo: Contributed

Mr Collins said NQ Aerovation was having a “significant impact on our local agricultural industry” as well as “influencing our local youth” to embrace the diverse job opportunities available in that industry.

As council considers their development application, Mr Jurgens and Ms Russell said any farmers or young people interested in drone piloting should get in contact.

“We can guide anybody through the process (because) we went through it as well.”