Drone pilots - USA - Curt Lewis

Holloman Air Force Base plans to train more than 800 drone pilots next year

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Officials with Holloman Air Force Base told KFOX14 the base is planning to train 818 remotely piloted aircraft or RPA pilots in 2016, the most in the program's history.

For years the military has used drones to drop bombs or spy on enemies.

Now the increase in their usage has created a demand for more pilots.

From 2009 to 2014, the number of pilots graduating the program increased from 136 to 716.