Our Story

2014

In the beginning, then coworkers and soon-to-be best friends Richard and Robert were working during the summers of university as wildland firefighters. Struck by the idea that drones might be able to change the way information is collected and utilized on the fireline, they shook hands, took a risk on a new technology, and founded Hummingbird Drones Inc™.

2016

Those first years were lean, and to keep the lights on, the two of them took an opportunity to teach a drone class in a small community in northern British Columbia. Already leaders in the drone industry (without any teaching experience), they cobbled together the required material and got to work in front of a classroom. Not only was the class a hit, but Richard realized he had a penchant and a passion for teaching, and they decided to make training a permanent fixture in Hummingbird's services.

2019

The drone world was changing, and as Transport Canada moved to bring in a formal licensing system for drone pilots, Richard and Robert worried that this might be the end of their semi-regular training courses. In fact, the opposite happened - an increase in regulation led to big organizations taking drones seriously, and business boomed. Hummingbird hired their first outside instructor, Jon Wilson.

2022

Today we are as excited about drones as ever. FlySmart was born to address an increasing need for professional drone training and to set our courses apart from our other drone services. We hope you'll join us online & in the skies!

Robert (left) & Richard (right) circa 2015

Richard teaching FlySmart, circa 2022