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MARK PRENDERGAST - MD & Head of Training
Leading Safe Drone Academy's training team is Mark Prendergast, an experienced aviation professional with a career spanning both manned and unmanned aviation. Mark is an Airbus A320 Captain with Aer Lingus, an EASA instructor, and has over 20 years of instructional experience across military, commercial and civilian aviation. Trained as a flying instructor with the Royal Canadian Air Force, he is also a qualified Multi-Crew Cooperation (MCC) and Crew Resource Management (CRM) instructor, bringing decades of experience in developing pilots through structured, practical and engaging training.
Mark combines his extensive aviation background with genuine operational experience in the drone industry. Having accumulated hundreds of hours conducting commercial UAS operations including aerial photography, videography and photogrammetry, he understands the realities of flying professionally, not just the regulations. He also worked closely with the Irish Aviation Authority to redevelop and rewrite Ireland's practical drone assessment programme, helping shape the standards expected of today's remote pilots. His passion is helping others become safe, confident and capable operators through practical, experience-led instruction that bridges regulatory compliance with real-world operations.
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THEODORE PRINCE - Chief Instructor
Safe Drone’s Chief Instructor, Theodore Prince, has an extensive background in both the manned aviation and the drone industries. Theodore works closely with Mark in training, testing, safety management, risk evaluation, operational procedures, and standardisation.
A graduate in Industrial Engineering from Penn State University, Theodore has a combined 30 years of aviation experience in both the US Navy and civilian aviation sectors. He is an expert in aviation safety, with post-graduate qualifications from Naval Safety Center in Monterey, California. Theodore has been involved in developing aviation manuals, risk analysis, and regulation compliance. In addition to being a UAS flight Examiner with the IAA, Theodore is currently a Captain on the Bombardier Global 6000 with Netjets Europe.
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LORCAN HICKEY – Instructor & Examiner
Lorcan Hickey is an experienced aviation professional with an extensive background including fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and unmanned aircraft operations. Drawing on experience across both military and civilian environments, he brings a practical, safety-focused approach to training, operational planning, and flight assessment.
Throughout his career, Lorcan has been involved in manned and unmanned aviation, with expertise in flight instruction and aircrew training. His operational experience includes the development of safe operating procedures, risk management, and the delivery of high-quality training to personnel operating in demanding and dynamic environments.
In addition to his aviation background, Lorcan has extensive experience working alongside voluntary search and rescue organisations, contributing to emergency response operations and supporting the integration of drone technology into search, rescue, and public safety missions.
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