Registration is now open for Drone Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) License Prep Course for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Operations, Planning, and Piloting offered through Clark State College Workforce and Business Solutions.
The two-day course will prepare students to sit for the Part 107 License Exam and provide a hands-on opportunity to practice drone flying through simulation and directly on mini and mid-sized unmanned aerial drones.
“Being licensed for commercial drone use is increasingly popular and useful in a variety of fields,” said Gerritt Smith, director of Clark State Workforce and Business Solutions. “Emergency service agencies, real estate agents, photographers and videographers, agriculture, construction and many more industries can utilize drone flying and imaging to enhance their businesses and services.”
The Part 107 License exam prep course will also provide students a take-away copy of the ASA 2021 Remote Pilot Test Prep guide, to fully prepare for the licensing exam. Clark State will provide all necessary equipment for the course to be held on its main campus in Springfield, and cost is $375.00 per participant.
Dr. Adam Parrillo, assistant dean and GIS/Geospatial program coordinator at Clark State, said currently there is one overarching certification for commercial operations of drones: the Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification.
“While individuals can fly recreationally without, the certification must be obtained to do any commercial (receive financial benefit) activity with a drone,” he said. “While it is only a 60 question multiple-choice knowledge examination, you must know the regulations for drone activity including the various classifications of airspace, the basics of drone safety, how to read air charts, understand weather conditions, and flight crew management.”
Parrillo said it can be difficult for a novice to navigate all of the information and a course like this helps guide the potential pilot through the information; providing tips on how to comprehend and also how to take the exam.
“Once licensed, the world of drones becomes much more tangible in terms of jobs and even careers. Though the UAS market is still being worked out, there should be real opportunities for those that get into this field earlier than later,” said Parrillo. “We hope that this workshop not only assists individuals in the preparation to become remote pilots but also links them into Clark State’s opportunities to get hands-on flight time and practice activities that mirror current commercial activities.”
In 2020 Clark State College was also selected by the FAA as a partner for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems-Collegiate Training Initiative Program or the UAS-CTI.
The FAA’s UAS-CTI program recognizes institutions