A series of drone events are coming to Baltimore from Nov. 1 to Nov. 10.

Global Air Media and nonprofit drone training and STEM organization Global Air Drone Academy are partnering with Light City and the Federal Aviation Association (FAA) for the week of events focused on aerial innovation and drone safety. It happens during Brilliant Baltimore, — which is the combined Light City and Baltimore Book Festival that is debuting this year— as well as National Drone Safety Awareness Week.

Global Air Media, founded in 2015, is a commercial organization that provides several drone services such as aerial land survey and mapping. The nonprofit academy arm was created last year to focus on drone training and education for youth and adults.

“We’re changing the perception of drones,” said Eno Umoh, cofounder of Global Air Media. “When people think of drones, they think of the military, privacy issues or as a toy. We want to show how drones can be used in innovative ways.”

Global Air Media is producing Baltimore’s first-ever drone show on the first two nights of the Light City, Umoh said. The show will include 60 drones synchronized with background music illuminating the Inner Harbor sky with Baltimore-themed 3D art such as crabs and boats. Shows are scheduled from 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on November 1 and 2.

Global Air Media will also take part in Neighborhood Lights workshops, partnering with the Enoch Pratt Free Library to present light art, literature, music and food at eight branches throughout the week.

In conjunction with Neighborhood Lights workshops, National Drone Safety Awareness Week, an initiative from the FAA, is taking place with local events from Nov. 4 to Nov. 10. Global Air Drone Academy will run themed drone building and flying workshops each night in support of drone safety awareness.

Themes include commercial and medical package delivery, agriculture, education and STEM, drones for public safety, photography, real estate, insurance and drone racing.

The academy will also set up “drone zones” over the week, allowing attendees to operate drones in an enclosed flying cage.


“Anyone can come in and learn how drones can be used,” Umoh said. “It’s going to be a great opportunity to learn and get some hands-on flying experience.”

As drones continue to become legitimate devices for everyday tasks such as package deliveries and grocery shopping, Umoh sees drone education as a bridge to bettering Baltimore.

“We haven’t even scratched the surface as far as how drones are being utilized to help different industries in the city,” Umoh said. “The soldering, coding, programming —we really see that as job-creating skills. We’re doing our part to train and educate people, but there are a ton of applications that can be used. Our big thing is making sure people are aware [of] what’s going on.”

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