Can gaming help you fly?

Most young people, 90% of kids over 2 years old in fact, play video games.

A lot of parents would be devastated by that statistic, thinking video games are not useful whatsoever. But what if I told you that they actually develop a lot of useful transferable skills that offer unique opportunities? What if I told you they can help you fly?

Playing video games can help you gain the skills required to proficiently fly and film using drones and we are super excited by our new project. This is particularly relevant in educational settings, where our curricular and extra curricular sessions aim to equip young people with cutting-edge skills. At end2end TV, we're teaching pupils how to master drone technology for filmmaking, blending the thrill of gaming with the art of aerial cinematography.

We were trained by the UAV (Aerial Unmanned Vehicle) Academy for the Drone CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) Qualification last year, along with Josh from Vital Thread Productions who we worked with on our heritage project. We went on to test out the Drone Project in the Summer Term, and are now delighted to be officially launching it this term at Hurstmere School. We will be working with a group of Year 9 pupils who have applied for this innovative curricular challenge!

Josh, Lorraine and Peter training for the Drone Pilot CAA Qualification Summer 2024

The Skill Set Overlap: From Consoles to Controllers

Hand-Eye Coordination

Video games, especially action games, demand high levels of hand-eye coordination. Players must often navigate complex environments, react to on-screen prompts and manage multiple controls at the same time. These are the very same skills required to pilot a drone effectively. Drones need precise movements and adjustments, especially when filming scenes. Gamers, already adept at managing these tasks, find it easier to learn drone controllers.

Spatial Awareness and Navigation

Games that involve navigating through 3D spaces, such as fps games and racing games, help develop spatial awareness. Players learn to judge distances, understand perspectives, and manoeuvre through intricate digital worlds. When flying a drone, especially for filming, understanding the spatial relationship between the drone and the film subject is crucial. Gamers bring a keen sense of spatial awareness which makes them great at positioning drones for the perfect shot.

Problem-Solving and Strategy

Strategic games, like puzzle games, hone players' problem-solving skills and strategic thinking. These skills are vital when flying drones, as operators often need to plan flight paths on the fly! Gamers' experience in thinking several steps ahead and adapting to unexpected challenges translates well to the environment of drone piloting.

To conclude, the connection between video gaming and drone piloting shows off the transferable skills that digital experiences can offer. At end2end TV, we're excited to help pupils harness these skills and bridge the gap between virtual and real-world applications, as well as enabling pupils to understand the safety rules and pass the official test to achieve their Flyer ID with the CAA.

Our sessions will empower the next generation of drone pilots and filmmakers, proving that time spent gaming can lay the foundation for valuable, real-world qualifications and expertise.