Schoolcraft College offers two courses on flying drones for a hobby or business purposes
LIVONIA, Mich. –The drone craze has taken off nationally, with the FAA announcing earlier this year that its unmanned aerial systems registration portal had surpassed the one million mark. But whether you want to fly your drone in the backyard or use it for business and commercial purposes, there are local municipal and FAA rules and regulations that drone pilots must follow before takeoff.
Fortunately, Schoolcraft College offers two courses in piloting drones-one for hobbyists and one to prepare for the FAA remote pilot exam- through its Continuing Education and Professional Development (CEPD) program.
“Our courses are growing in popularity to coincide with the huge interest in flying drones for fun and commercial use,” said Michele Fuher, CEPD program coordinator who oversees the Drone and Remote Pilot program.
Fuher explains that hobbyists fly drones for enjoyment and not for business or compensation for hire. Schoolcraft’s Drones for the Hobbyist course helps students learn to fly a drone and teaches them where and when they can fly. The course also covers basic terminology, various types of drones, laws and regulations, and how to safely use and store their equipment.
The Part 107 Exam Preparation for the Remote Pilot course prepares students for the FAA exam required to earn their remote pilot airman certificate so they can fly small unmanned aircraft systems for profit.
Both instructors for the courses are experts in the field. Zak Wilson, who teaches the Part 107 Exam Preparation for the Remote Pilot, is a certified Remote Pilot with experience utilizing various drone applications including aerial photography and surveying technology. Chris Meyer, who teaches the Drones for the Hobbyist course, has 25 years of aviation experience, is a full time aviation high school instructor and also operates a small unmanned aircraft system company.
For those students who are interested in a career in this growing aviation area, Fuher said there are extensive and diverse opportunities for skilled remote pilots using drones. Industries using drones include agriculture, cartography, construction, disaster relief, infrastructure maintenance and repair, law enforcement and surveillance, photography and film, real estate and research.
Schoolcraft College offers two Drones for the Hobbyist courses this winter: Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Monday and Wednesday, Feb. 25 and Feb. 27, 2019 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. The course costs $99 and $79.20 for seniors.
The four-week Part 107 Exam Preparation for the Remote Pilot course will be offered from March 11 to April 1, 2019 and costs $229 and $183.20 for seniors.
All courses are held on Schoolcraft College’s main Livonia campus. For more information call 734-462-4448 or visit www.schoolcraft.edu/cepddrones.
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