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Evening classes are now available for Olney Central College’s new Unmanned Aerial Pilot Certificate.
“We know there are individuals who would like to complete the certificate, but are unable to take daytime classes because they are working,” said Morgan Henton, Unmanned Aerial Technology Specialist. “We hope this will make it easier for them to complete the training.”
Courses available this fall include UAS 1205 Principles of UAT Flight and UAS 1215 Remote Pilot (Part 107) Prep. The classes will meet Mondays and Wednesdays, from 6 to 7:40 p.m. and 7:45 to 9 p.m., respectively.
The UAP Certificate prepares individuals to expand their skill set for jobs in industries that use varied types of unmanned aerial systems including agriculture, public safety, surveying, inspection and logistics.
Students in the program learn how to fly a variety of drones, plan missions for data collection and learn different photography and videography techniques. The coursework also prepares them to successfully complete the Remote Pilot (Part 107) Certification.
Students who complete the fall courses can earn their UAP Certificate with just two additional courses in the spring.
Henton said work is proceeding on the program’s classroom and lab facilities, which are housed at the West Richland Center in Noble.
A variety of drones have been purchased. Students will learn the basics utilizing the light-weight and durable Tello before progressing to more sophisticated drones.
“We have a lot of nice, new top-of-the-line drones,” Henton said. “These are industry-leading brands and models.”
Students will gain experience using three Mavic 2 Pros, the top-end drone for video and photography. They also will have access to the dual-purpose Mavic 2 Enterprise, which features infrared vision and a spotlight. This specialized drone is used for search and rescue along with power pole inspections.
Students will also fly the Matrice 210, which includes advanced zoom and thermal imaging.
For more information about the program, contact Advisor Vicki Thompson at 618-395-7777 or email thompsonv@iecc.edu. Fall classes start Aug. 20 and students are encouraged to register as soon as possible.
The Unmanned Aerial Pilot Certificate is a Title III program that is supported in part by a five-year grant awarded to Olney Central College from the U.S. Department of Education effective October 1, 2018. The estimated total cost for all project activities is $2,506,775 financed by the grant award of $2,249,968 (90%) and $256,807 (10%) by Olney Central College.
