Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., December 28, 2007 Tevet 19, 5768 | | Israel Time: 09:24 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Magazine

A 'Shoval' flying drone. (Reuters) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 09:17 26/12/2007 Civilians from military firms to learn to fly drones By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: flying drones, IDF  Israel next week will open its first-ever civilian program to train people to operate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The course, which is to be given by the company Shirgal Wings in partnership with Freedom Technologies, will take place at the Herzliya airport, where 18 students will learn to take off, cruise and land during the course's two to three months. Although graduates will receive licenses that are completely civilian and recognized by the Israel Airport Authority (IAA,) most of the students and instructors hail from the defense establishment. Various defense organizations and military companies require training for their personnel for a range of UAV-related applications they are developing. Advertisement Most of the program's instructors are former officers in the Israel Air Force's UAV units, according to Chen Grens of Freedom Technologies. Grens says these people have extensive experience. "The course will progress according to the student's capacity," Grens told Haaretz. "Most of the course is theoretical, where cadets will study the theory of using UAVs in the field." Grens said that as far as the organizers know, the course is the first of its kind in the world. Grens added that the organizers might open another class next month because of increasing interest from other security-related companies. In recent years, the Israel Defense Forces and IAF have employed a wide variety of UAVs, which are used mostly for surveillance and observation over enemy territory. The IDF has relied on UAVs in everyday antiterrorist activity in the Gaza Strip and used them during the Second Lebanon War last year. Bookmark to del.icio.us Who shot Bhutto? Conspiracy theories over the assassination of the Pakistani opposition leader abound. Obama and Israel Israelis following the U.S. elections are not clear on Obama's approach.   1.   Yikes, sound like Israel is going Terrorist.. 02:55  |  IDF Thug 26/12/07   2.   Yikes, sound like Israel is going Terrorist.. 02:55  |  IDF Thug 26/12/07   3.   Remote control war! Wonderful! 03:03  |  Murray of Montreal 26/12/07   4.   I can now be a thug 04:11  |  leo 26/12/07   5.   Just like the American Blackwater... 04:38  |  Silvienne 26/12/07   6.   #5 Silvienne 05:18  |  leo 26/12/07   7.   UAV (~2007) = vini vidi vici ( ~ 47 BCE by Caesar) 05:52  |  avigdor 26/12/07   8.   The free world is thankful 06:11  |  Ricardo 26/12/07   9.   Just like the game 10:57  |  Boaz 26/12/07   10.   My dear, dear Silvienne 15:34  |  Murray of Montreal 26/12/07   11.   #9, Boaz... 16:03  |  Silvienne 26/12/07   12.   #8, Ricardo... 16:11  |  Silvienne 26/12/07

Today Online Shmuel Rosner: Israel has Obama's backing to stay a Jewish state Responses: 228 At least 15 dead in Pakistan riots in wake of Bhutto slaying Responses: 158 Amira Hass: Will PA ire at settlements spark a new Intifada? Responses: 124 Editorial: They were brought here as Jews, so treat them as such Responses: 67 Source: Turkey is studying support from Israel 'very closely' Responses: 84 Rosner's Domain An exacerbated tension between Olmert and Rice Rosner's Mailbox: Paul and Huckabee supporters' letters, my responses Jews, enjoy your mistletoe (WTR) Poll: The most likely event to happen in 2008 More Headlines 08:38 PM to Abbas: Israel won't undermine final status talks 08:32 IDF kills eight militants in Gaza, including Jihad commander 09:19 Pakistan to bury Benazir Bhutto as slaying sparks wave of unrest 03:08 Interior Ministry ignoring High Court ruling on conversions 07:34 New version of old self-defense group guards Jewish farmlands 02:04 Another record year for defense spending in 2008 05:32 Cronyism suspect allowed to return to PM's bureau 09:24 Foreign workers celebrate holidays amid hopes for citizenship 01:57 Environment Ministry sanctions likely to cause water shortages 05:48 MKs offer fewer private bills for greater scrutiny of government Previous Editions Select Day 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 21 dec 20 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec 16 dec 14 dec

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