APD

What APD does

APD (Asociación de Profesionales de Drones) is a Bogotá-headquartered private company founded in 2016 that operates the largest drone professional ecosystem in Latin America through three integrated divisions: APD Academy (CIAC RAC 141 certified training and pilot certification), CPAD / Centro de Pensamiento y Acción Drone (corporate UAS consulting and applied services for municipalities, enterprises, and international cooperation agencies), and APD ONG (the community and humanitarian arm). The company has trained more than 11,000 professionals across 12 countries and, in July 2025, became the first organization in Colombia to obtain dual authorization as Explotador UAS under RAC 100 and as a Centro de Instrucción Aeronáutica Civil certified under RAC 141, conferring exclusive legal authority to operate and certify commercial drone operations in the Specific Category.

The platform centers on UAS/Drone technology for professional applications including photogrammetry, multispectral imaging, BVLOS operations, AI-powered data analytics, and autonomous systems management. Two proprietary methodologies—SIGUAS (Sistema Integral de Gestión UAS) for end-to-end UAS operations management and PEPEE for photogrammetric workflows—codify APD's field experience. Its product suite spans the Professional Drone Pilot Course (Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, International), advanced specializations in photography/video and photogrammetry, the DronePilot Master (BVLOS, night operations, SMS), DroneData Analyst (AI on drone data), DroneManager executive program (500-hour BHT Berlin partnership with double European-Iberoamerican certification), and the Master UAS degree (UPV Valencia for Iberoamerica). Corporate offerings include Programa Drone Municipal, Programa Drone Empresarial, APD INSPECT, and Drone Logistics.

APD's revenue model combines professional services revenue from certified training courses (with tiered country-specific pricing and seasonal Black Week discounts), project-based corporate consulting through CPAD for governments and NGOs (FAO, WFP, GIZ, TNC, BID, Sanofi, Colombian ministries, Parques Nacionales Naturales), and licensing/royalty-like revenue from international academic partnerships (BHT Berlin, UPV Valencia). Go-to-market is education-first, leveraging the APD Academy website, WhatsApp direct sales, and reseller partnerships to build a recurring certification ladder from individual pilots through executive UAS leadership programs across Latin America and Iberoamerica.

Name

APD

Legal name

APD Integrated Drone Services S.A.S.

Website

https://apddrones.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

APD (Asociación de Profesionales de Drones) is a Bogotá-based private firm operating Latin America's largest drone professional ecosystem, combining CIAC RAC 141 certified pilot training (Academy), corporate UAS consulting (CPAD), and a community NGO across 12 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Drone Training & Aerial Services

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMABAIAH

Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing/Unmanned Aerial Systems (Drones) & Autonomous Platforms

Keywords

• Drone pilot training
• UAS certification
• Aerial photogrammetry
• Drone inspection services
• Commercial drone operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogotá

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Training and Certification Services: Revenue from drone pilot certification courses, advanced specialization programs (photography, videography, photogrammetry), and executive DroneManager programs. Courses are offered in multiple countries (Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, International) with pricing tiers and seasonal discounts.
2. Corporate Drone Services (CPAD): Consulting and implementation services for municipalities, enterprises, and government institutions including drone logistics protocols, municipal drone programs, and strategic projects for international cooperation organizations.
3. International Academic Programs: Revenue from international certification programs including DroneManager (with BHT Berlin), Master UAS (with UPV Valencia), and specialized seminars.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

APD is a drone professional services and training organization that delivers CIAC RAC 141-certified UAS pilot certification, advanced specializations (photogrammetry, photography/video, BVLOS, SMS), and executive drone management programs (DroneManager with BHT Berlin, Master UAS with UPV Valencia) through its APD Academy. It also provides corporate drone implementation and inspection services (Municipal Drone Program, Enterprise Drone Program, APD INSPECT, drone logistics) through CPAD, supported by its proprietary SIGUAS and PEPEE methodologies for end-to-end UAS operations.

Product overview

APD (Asociación de Profesionales de Drones) is a comprehensive drone ecosystem operating across Latin America with over 7 countries and alliances in Europe and North America. The organization consists of three main divisions: APD Academy (training and certification), CPAD (corporate services and innovation center), and APD ONG (humanitarian drone pilot community). APD Academy offers professional certification under CIAC RAC 141, including programs such as Professional Drone Pilot Course, DronePilot Master, DroneData Analyst, DroneManager (in partnership with BHT Berlin), and Master UAS (with UPV Valencia). CPAD provides applied drone services through lines including Drone Logistics, Enterprise Drone Program, Municipal Drone Program, and APD INSPECT. The ecosystem also includes SIGUAS methodology for integral UAS management. APD serves five key sectors: security/defense, agriculture/environment, industrial inspection/utilities, construction/infrastructure, and Smart Cities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Curso Piloto Profesional de Drones (Professional Drone Pilot Course) Professional drone pilot certification course covering regulations, safety protocols, and operational skills for aspiring commercial drone pilots; available for Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, and international programs.
• Curso Avanzado en Fotogrametría con Drones (Advanced Photogrammetry Course) Advanced specialization course teaching high-value photogrammetric solutions using drones with the proprietary PEPEE methodology, covering aerial mapping and 3D modeling techniques.
• Curso Avanzado en Fotografía y Vídeo con Drones (Advanced Photography and Video Course) Advanced specialization course for professional drone photography and video composition, teaching high-level aerial imaging techniques for professional and profitable use.
• DronePilot Master Program Advanced pilot training program covering BVLOS operations, night operations, and operational safety management (SMS) in specialized sectors; part of the professional routes in autonomous technology.
• DroneData Analyst Program Training program to transform drone-captured data into strategic decisions through photogrammetry, analytics, and AI; part of the professional routes in autonomous technology.
• DroneManager (BHT-APD International Program) 500-hour executive leadership program for managing complex UAS operations, strategic planning, and regulatory compliance, with double German-Latin American certification in partnership with BHT Berlin.
• Master UAS Program (with UPV Valencia) International master's program with Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (Spain) in partnership with APD Inc. for Iberoamerica, designed to train international elite in managing autonomous aerial, terrestrial and aquatic technologies.
• Curso SMS (Safety Management Systems for Drone Operations) Specialized training course covering Safety Management Systems (SMS) for drone operations, supporting aviation-grade operational safety in professional UAS deployments.
• Programa Drone Municipal (Municipal Drone Program) Application of drone technology in the municipal public sector, improving compliance rates and efficiency with modern information systems for local government operations and e-government implementations.
• Programa Drone Empresarial / Drone Industrial (Enterprise Drone Program) Corporate drone program providing real-time information capture and analysis for enterprises through UAS/Drone technology implementation in inspections, security, construction progress monitoring, and other industrial applications.
• APD INSPECT Drone inspection service for industrial and infrastructure applications, part of APD's applied services programs alongside the Municipal Drone Program and Enterprise Drone Program.
• Drone Logistics Consulting Development of protocols and methodologies for implementing nodal logistics systems for merchandise transport with drones using highest operational safety standards; part of CPAD's applied services lines.
• CPAD Strategic Projects (International Cooperation) Strategic projects line delivering drone technology implementation through international cooperation organizations aimed at improving citizen quality of life (e.g., FAO, GIZ cooperation projects).

Quantifiable outcome

• 38% average reduction in operational costs and risks for companies employing APD graduates
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• FAO (Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership with FAO for agricultural damage assessment using drone technology. APD developed the 'Evaluación de Daños y Pérdidas Agrícolas con tecnología Drone' project, implementing SIGUAS methodology for comprehensive UAS operations in Colombian agriculture. Project included training for FAO technical personnel and local communities across multiple Colombian departments.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIMAC (Manejo Integral Marino Costero) project collaboration for coastal zone management using drone technology. APD provided training, operational protocols, and community learning systems for protected area management with Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia.
• BHT (Berliner Hochschule für Technik)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership for Data DroneManager certification program combining APD's Latin American UAS expertise with BHT's European academic standards. Program includes DronePilot Master and DroneData Analyst tracks converging in the 500-hour DroneManager executive certification.
• UPV (Universidad Politécnica de Valencia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Master UAS program - a proprietary master's degree for managing autonomous technologies across air, land, and water applications throughout Iberoamerica.
• WFP (Programa Mundial de Alimentos / World Food Programme)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with UN World Food Programme for autonomous technology and AI adoption across 12 Latin American countries to strengthen food security and climate risk management.
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly partnership defining first standards for drone use in deforestation prevention efforts in Colombian forests, working with Colombian Ministry of Environment.
• Parques Nacionales Naturales de ColombiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for marine-coastal protected area management using drone technology. Included training for PNN personnel in flight operations and photogrammetric data analysis.
• Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible de ColombiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on environmental monitoring and conservation technology implementation standards.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• EHang: EHang provides autonomous aerial vehicles and drone services across multiple markets — an emerging player addressing urban air mobility and drone applications that partially overlap with APD's municipal drone program and autonomous technology services.
• Skydio: Skydio provides autonomous drone hardware and software for inspection, public safety, and enterprise — an emerging player whose AI-driven autonomy increasingly competes with APD's training curriculum as drones become more self-flying and training focus shifts to analytics and management.

Broad incumbents

• Parrot: Parrot is a European drone manufacturer offering enterprise and government-focused UAS solutions with training and integration support — a broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities in professional drone applications APD serves through CPAD.
• DJI: DJI is the world's largest drone manufacturer with its DJI Academy training program — a broad incumbent in professional UAS training and operations, offering overlapping capabilities through subsidized training programs that compete with APD Academy pricing.

Direct peers

• senseFly (AgEagle): senseFly, part of AgEagle, provides fixed-wing mapping drones and end-to-end solutions for agriculture, surveying, and inspection — comparable to APD's enterprise inspection and precision agriculture service lines including APD INSPECT and municipal drone programs.
• Aerodyne Group: Aerodyne is a global drone services company operating across multiple emerging markets, providing infrastructure inspection, agriculture, and security solutions — directly comparable to APD's CPAD service portfolio and international expansion strategy across Latin America.
• Pix4D: Pix4D provides photogrammetry software for processing drone imagery into 2D maps and 3D models — comparable to APD's PEPEE photogrammetric methodology and DroneData Analyst program that teach professionals to apply AI and analytics to drone captures.
• DroneDeploy: DroneDeploy offers a drone mapping and data analytics platform used across construction, agriculture, and inspection — comparable to APD's photogrammetry and DroneData Analyst offerings, particularly for processing multispectral and RGB drone imagery into actionable insights.
• PrecisionHawk: PrecisionHawk provides drone-based data analytics and aerial intelligence services to agriculture, energy, and government clients — directly comparable to APD's CPAD corporate services arm in offering end-to-end UAS data services with AI/analytics layers.

Regional players

• Measure (an AGI company): Measure provides drone-as-a-service solutions for enterprise inspection, mapping, and public safety, primarily in the US — comparable in business model and service portfolio to APD's CPAD but geographically focused on North America rather than Latin America.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmd66g9qPKV5STkH3J9zuWQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/apdpilotos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apdpilotos
• Instagraminstagram.com/apdpilotos/?hl=es
• Xx.com/apdpilotos

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about APD