COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
DRONE SAFETY FOR THE RECREATIONAL USER
1.5-hour non-credit course
Cost: varies by location
Prerequisites: None
_______________________
CLASSES & LOCATIONS
Jan 25, 2019 Aliquippa PA
4:00pm-5:30pm
Aliquippa Training Center
Feb 13, 2019 Fairmont WV
4:00pm-5:30pm
Pierpont Advanced Technology Center
Mar 11, 2019 Fairmont WV
4:00pm-5:30pm
Pierpont Advanced Technology Center
Drone Safety for the Recreational User is a 90 minute seminar that serves as an introduction to enjoying your new drone safely. Students will walk away knowing what a drone is and be able to understand the rules and regulations that pertain to those who want to enjoy flying their drone for fun. The class will focus on individual safety and ethical responsibility. The class will also show some of the tools available to help ensure the recreational user navigates in authorized airspace.
_______________________
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Students will have a conceptual understanding of what a drone is and how they work
- Students will be aware of the rules and regulations that pertain to recreational drone use
- Students will be safety oriented when flying for personal use
- Students will be an example of responsible, ethical owners and operators
- Students will be able to use 3rd party software to properly and quickly determine if the location they are in is safe to fly their drone
Who Should Take This Course?
Anyone who has recently purchased a drone or are interested in purchasing a drone will benefit from this course. If you already have a drone and did not realize that laws and regulations exist about where and how you can use your drone you will benefit from this course. Those who are interested in drone technology and would like to learn what all the drone hype is about, or if you think you might want to learn to fly a drone but are not ready to dive right in just yet: this is a great overview for you.
INTRODUCTION TO SMALL UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (sUAS)
6 hour non-credit course
Cost: $225 (includes all materials)
Prerequisites: None
_______________________
CLASSES & LOCATIONS
Mar 4-5, 2019 Aliquippa PA
2 Sessions: Mar 4 & Mar 5
6:00pm-9:00pm
Aliquippa Training Center
Mar 12-13, 2019 Fairmont WV
2 Sessions: Mar 4 & Mar 5
3:00pm-6:00pm
Pierpont Advanced Technology Center
Intro to sUAS is a 6 hour course that will walk the student through the history of unmanned aerial systems and where they are in use today. We will explore he components of unmanned aerial systems work. This introduction course will provide an overview of Airframe systems, Radio Control and Autopilot systems, Camera Systems, Power systems, Ground Control Stations, and Drive Train Systems.
_______________________
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Students will learn about the history of sUAS
- Students will become familiar with the industries that utilize drone based technology now and in the future
- Students will develop a general understanding of the components of sUAS and how they work
- Students will acquire an overview of sensors and imaging equipment and how they function
Who Should Take This Course?
There are no prerequisites in order to enroll in this course. No background is needed, we will cover everything from what is a drone, to different advanced imaging equipment they can carry.This course is designed for students wishing to explore drone technologies or maybe even thinking of earning their drone pilot licence. Maybe you are just interested in exploring what drones can do, how they work and where they are used. If so, this course is a great starter for those who have a general interest in drones or are contemplating further studies related to drone technologies.
REMOTE PILOT CERTIFICATE (RPC) PART 107 TEST PREP
12 hour non-credit course
Cost: $450 (includes all materials)
Prerequisites: None
_______________________
CLASSES & LOCATIONS
Jan 31 - Feb 8, 2019 Aliquippa PA
4 Sessions: Jan 31, Feb 4, Feb 5, & Feb 8, 2019
6:00pm-9:00pm
Aliquippa Training Center
Mar 11 - 14, 2019 Fairmont WV
4 Sessions: Mar 11, 12, 13, & 14
9:00am-12:00n
Pierpont Advanced Technology Center
FAA Drone Pilot Test
The 2-hour Airman Knowledge Test can be taken anytime at any of the 300 FAA Test Centers in the United States listed in this link:
FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Centers
The cost of the Test is $150, pass or fail
(This cost is not included in Prep Class tuition)
This course covers all of the topics included in the FAA Airman Knowledge Test (for drone pilot certification). Special emphasis is placed on flight safety, simplifying unfamiliar subject material, utilization of supplementary resources, and overcoming test anxiety.
Requirements to Become a Drone Pilot
- Be at least 16 years old
- Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English (exceptions for certain medical conditions)
- Be in a physical and mental condition to safely operate an sUAS
- Pass the Aeronautical Knowledge Test at an approved FAA Test Center
- Pass a TSA security background check
_______________________
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Applicable regulations relating to sUAS rating privileges, limitations, and flight operation
- Airspace classification and operating requirements
- Flight restrictions affecting sUAS operations
- Effects of weather on sUAS performance
- Aviation weather sources
- sUAS loading and performance
- Emergency procedures
- Crew resource management
- Radio communication procedures
- Determining the performance of sUAS
- Physiological effects of drugs and alcohol
- Aeronautical decision-making and judgment
- Airport operations
- Preflight inspection procedures
- sUAS Maintenance
Who Should Take This Course?
A score of 70% or higher is required to pass the 60 question (multiple choice) Airman Knowledge Test. Anyone who is unfamiliar with fundamental aeronautical science and current FAA regulations will benefit from this course. A review of the test topics below and the (linked) sample test questions illustrate the challenges of relying solely on self-study.
Aeronautical Maps & Symbols
Graphs & Tables
Weather Reports
National Airspace System
The sample test questions prepared by the FAA offers insight into the knowledge that is required to obtain a drone pilot license: