‘Drone journey’

Elmwood

Transcona

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/01/2025 (430 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RETLife is reaching new heights this year.

Feb. 10 will mark the first edition of the continuing education branch’s Introduction to drone technology program, which is organized by the River East Transcona School Division but available to anyone aged 12 to 16.

The program will be taught by instructor duo Eugene Kalchenko and Paul Voronin, two dads with a shared passion for drones going back many years.

Kalchenko, his wife and their three children, were forced to come to Canada from Ukraine two-and-a-half years ago, after Russia invaded the country. He’d been interested in drones before he was displaced, he said, but didn’t have much time to spend on his hobby until this last summer, as helping his family settle in was o his first priority.

Voronin majored in aviation at university in Ukraine before he had to pivot, also owing to the conflict, and shifted his focus to engineering. Drones gave him a different outlet to fly, he said, and he builds many himself.

The two met because Voronin had taken it upon himself to organize a cycling group for Ukrainian newcomers living in Winnipeg, and the men became fast friends. It wasn’t long until they discovered their shared interest, and, with Kalchenko’s kids attending programming at RETLife, the pieces of the eventual program quickly fell together.

“Everything was like a puzzle,” Kalchenko said. “Collecting all the pieces for one big picture.”

“Everything worked out perfectly,” said Naomi Kruse, program co-ordinator at RETLife.

“When I started looking into it, I realized how huge the industry was and all of the possibilities,” she said. “And that got me excited for programming, because it was like, ‘Why are there no classes like that now?’ And I kept trying to find a drone community, similar to what Eugene and Paul were doing, and there was very little that I could find.”

Although there are some technical online classes available, this course will focus more on hands-on experience — how drones are built; drone physics; safety precautions when using them; how to use the controller; and a chance to use a simulator to practise specific skills. Each class will focus on something different, Kalchenko said.

It will also help young people understand that, while drones are relatively new technology, operating them is not as complicated as it looks. Even Voronin’s young son is quite skilled at flying drones — he calls him his “co-pilot.”

Although there is a definite focus on developing skills and working towards a potential career, both men said there’s plenty of fun to be had.

“A lot of kids are into video games, and they don’t know how to transfer their skills from the video games into real life. And we’re (also) trying to give opportunity to build this bridge. Because you (may be) flying with the visor, but you’re already flying on the real drone in real life.”

The pair eventually wants to develop a drone community of both teens and adults and, over time, collect enough people to form a drone soccer league — an e-sport which was established in South Korea. This will come as the program grows, and it’s already slated to add an adult class in the spring.

“We have to involve more interested people, kids, adults in this community,” Kalchenko said. “For now, this is just me, Paul and Naomi, who are pushing all this stuff. I hope we grow community, because, we cannot cover everything. That’s why we are just in the very beginning, at the start of our big journey — drone journey,”

At press time, only a few seats were left in the first class, which will run until March 3, but more are planned for the spring. Registration costs $199. To contact RETLife about registration, call 204-667-6193.

To learn more about the program, visit retlife.ca/product-category/kyt-classes/youth-active-lifestyle-and-sports