APRIL’s female drone pilots are taking flight

To further gender diversity in the workplace, APRIL has trained and developed 15 female drone pilots, with Nina Kurnia BR Sembiring rising as the coordinator for an all-female drone team.

In the forestry sector, the role of high technology is far more essential than many assume. Advanced drone devices are pivotal for APRIL’s operations, enabling more accurate and wider coverage of plantations.

Drones are used for aerial observation, tracking plant health, and for distributing pesticide and other treatments.

Since 2023, APRIL has opened up opportunities for female drone pilots to support operations. Nina is one of 15 female drone pilots with APRIL, and the company’s first female Drone Pilot Coordinator.

Launching 30 flights a day, her team covers up to 25 hectares. The drones enable a much larger area to be covered than manual spraying, while ensuring optimal coverage to reduce chemical usage. “I supervise the results to ensure the areas are covered, and coordinate our activities with other departments so operations are run smoothly.”

With a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Riau, Nina has always had an interest in electronics. She first discovered the world of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) through her experience in robotics. When the APRIL Group opened vacancies for drone pilots, she applied, curious on what role drones would play in its operations.

“Being a drone pilot is not what women might consider doing, but APRIL has been expanding career paths for women, and supports our growth through several training programmes,” says Nina. She has obtained certificates as an operator and instructor, and also holds pilot licences from the Indonesian Drone Pilot Association and DJI, a global provider of UAV technology.

APRIL’s all-female drone pilot team is a welcome development in the industry. "I want to prove to all women in Indonesia that becoming drone pilots is not restricted only for men,” says Nina. “I am a woman, and I believe I can nail it because I am confident and eager to keep learning, Technology is constantly upgrading, and we need to keep updated.”

The expansion and development of APRIL’s female drone pilot programme supports the company’s APRIL2030 vision of Inclusive Progresswith a plan to advance equal opportunities and women’s participation. The plan covers improved access to training programmes, continuous review of structures, and setting goals in to the proportion of female leaders by 2030.