Introductory Course "aotori mini" to Overcome the "7 Walls" of Drone Business to Start Accepting Applications in July 2026

The Japan Drone Business Support Association (DBA), headquartered in Okayama City and led by Representative Director Koji Morimoto, will begin accepting applications in July 2026 for "aotori mini," an introductory course for drone businesses.

The applications for drones have expanded significantly from aerial photography to surveying, inspection, disaster prevention and mitigation, and logistics. Inspecting bridges and infrastructure, inspecting solar power generation facilities, spraying pesticides, surveying disaster-stricken areas, and transporting goods to mountainous regions – drones are no longer "all-purpose machines that can do anything if you have one." Instead, they have become specialized businesses requiring completely different knowledge, skills, and equipment for each field.

On the other hand, as the range of applications has increased, the initial hurdle for those who "want to start a business with drones" or "want to start as a side job" has become higher. aotori mini re-examines this entry barrier from the ground up and offers it as an introductory course that starts from the basics, builds up specialized fields one by one, and allows learning on actual job sites. It can be started from an initial cost of 250,000 yen and a monthly fee of 10,000 yen (both excluding tax), with no contract period.

aotori mini

https://aotori.jp/mini.html

◾️ About Drone Business: Moving from the Era of "One All-Purpose Machine" to "Specialized Fields"

The use of drones is expanding its reach year by year. This is driven by the increasing demand for inspections due to the aging of social infrastructure, the need for rapid assessment of disaster damage in response to intensifying natural disasters, labor shortages common to all industries, and the improvement of social trust in drone operations due to the spread of national qualification systems. In this context, drones have rapidly become established in practical fields.

Their applications are now diverse.

Aerial Photography: Promotional videos for tourism, real estate, and events

Spraying: Labor saving through pesticide and fertilizer application to farmland

Surveying: 3D surveying of land development sites and civil engineering sites

Inspection: Inspection of high-altitude/dangerous locations such as bridges, power lines, plants, and solar panels

Air Transport: Transportation of goods to mountainous areas, remote islands, and disaster-stricken areas

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation: Grasping disaster situations, supporting search for missing persons

Consulting: Introduction support, human resource development

Schools: DBT certification, national qualification training

What's important is that each of these fields requires completely different equipment, legal knowledge, flight skills, and deliverables. The skills required for bridge inspection are different from those required for pesticide spraying. The era when "a wide range of work could be done with just one drone" has passed, and we have moved into an era where specialization is required in each field due to further segmentation.

For those entering the field, opportunities are expanding, but at the same time, new difficulties are arising regarding "which field to enter, what to learn, and how to learn it."

◾️ Challenges Solved by aotori mini: "7 Walls + Field Experience" Blocking Drone Business Startups

Even if you want to "start a business with drones," simply being able to fly is not enough to make it a viable business. DBA has organized the challenges faced by aspiring entrants into the following "7 Walls + Field Experience."

Equipment Selection and Introduction: Optimal equipment differs by field, and initial investment is high.

Knowledge of Regulations: Understanding rules including the Civil Aeronautics Act.

Operation Skills by Task: Skills required for aerial photography, inspection, and spraying are different.

Customer Acquisition and Sales: How to acquire jobs.

Quotation and Proposal: Ability to propose at appropriate prices.

Flight Planning: Planning to ensure safety.

Data Editing and Delivery: Not just shooting, but the skill to deliver as a final product.

And finally, the wall that stands is:

Field Experience. It is not easy to become independent without actual field experience, even after learning the knowledge and skills. Many people stop without being able to overcome this final hurdle of "learned, but cannot do the job."

aotori mini is designed to help you overcome all of these 7 walls and field experience, step by step.

note Article "7 Steps Required to Enter the Drone Business"

https://note.com/dba2016/n/n414f211bd4b8

◾️ About aotori: A Network of 140 Locations Nationwide, "Collaborating with Colleagues"

"aotori" is a package that broadly supports drone businesses. It allows systematic learning and acquisition of the aforementioned 8 fields + alpha, and their development as a business.

The biggest feature of aotori is that it is not just a place for learning, but a "network" where drone business pilots nationwide collaborate. As of July 2026, the aotori network has expanded to 140 locations nationwide.

Large projects are shared with colleagues, and areas or fields that cannot be handled are mutually supported – the culture of "working collaboratively with colleagues" rather than "handling everything alone" is the foundation of this network.

For new entrants, the existence of this nationwide network is of decisive importance. From the stage of just starting a business with no track record or connections, they can access the actual job sites where senior pilots are working.

aotori mini is positioned precisely as the entrance to this network.

URL: https://www.aotori.jp

◾️ About aotori mini: "Start Small, Grow Big"

Acquiring all 8 fields at once requires considerable time and cost.

Therefore, aotori mini has been designed as an introductory course that starts with the basics of drone business and builds up specialized fields one by one.

It is the easiest entry point for beginners starting a business, those who wish to work part-time/concurrently, and those who "want to learn only a specific field first."

"Learn on the Job" Supporter System The biggest feature of aotori mini is the supporter system. Learning doesn't end there. Utilizing the aotori network, you can participate as "support" on the job sites of senior pilots in your chosen field. By entering the field and getting hands-on experience, you can overcome the "field experience" wall that remains at the end of the "7 Walls." This is a learning method that is only possible because aotori has a network of 140 locations nationwide.

Only Necessary Fields, One by One Specialized courses can be added one by one from 8 types, choosing only what is necessary. There is no need to pay for fields you don't use. You can start with just aerial photography and add inspection once your business is on track – this allows for growth that fits your circumstances.

Ease of Starting: No Strings Attached, No Royalties The basic plan has an initial cost of 250,000 yen + monthly fee of 10,000 yen (excluding tax). There is no contract period, and you can cancel at any time from a minimum of one month. Since it is a fixed monthly fee system with no royalties on sales, the hurdle to "try it first" is significantly lowered.

Three Ways to Learn

Knowledge Learning (Online): Learn Civil Aeronautics Act, safety, and business knowledge at your own pace on an online learning platform.

Skill Learning (Offline): In addition to a 3-day basic business startup training, acquire practical skills through step-up training for each specialized field.

Field Experience: Participate in the field of your chosen area using the aotori network (supporter system).

A Pathway to Startup in the Shortest Time Application (Issuance of dedicated account)

→ Knowledge Learning

→ Online consultation for business development

→〈Startup possible by this point〉

→ Basic Business Startup Training

→ Specialized Field Training

→ Expansion of supported fields.

The flow is designed to allow you to take the first step smoothly and in the shortest possible time, so that you can start your business after completing the knowledge learning and consultation.

◾️ DBA's "3-Step" Growth Design: Seamlessly from Entry to Full-Scale Startup aotori mini is not just a standalone course but is incorporated into DBA's phased growth design.

STEP 1: DBT Member – Get a taste of the basics of drone business.

STEP 2: aotori mini – Introductory course to learn basics + specialized fields one by one while earning.

STEP 3: aotori (Full) – Full-scale startup deploying a wide range of 8 fields (initial cost 2,000,000 yen, excluding tax).

What's important is that these three steps are connected seamlessly.

The initial cost + monthly fees paid for aotori mini can be applied towards transitioning to the higher-tier plan, "aotori." Those who start small and gain confidence can step up without wasting their payments. Continuity is the design philosophy of DBA.

◾️ The Meaning Behind the aotori mini Logo

【Start Small, Grow Big】

Service Start Date and Inquiries

Starts July 2026 Service details and inquiries: https://aotori.jp/mini.html

July 2026 Online Joint Information Session

Application form: https://form.k3r.jp/dronebs/aotori-202607-1

【Organization Overview】

Organization Name: Japan Drone Business Support Association (DBA)

Location: Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture

Business Activities: Education and promotion of drone business, operation of drone schools, operation of the drone business franchise "aotori" network, implementation of drone business examinations.

URL: https://www.drone-business.jp

【Contact Information for this Matter】

Japan Drone Business Support Association (DBA)

Email: [email protected]

Reception Hours: 10:00 - 16:00 (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays)

*Phone inquiries are not accepted.