{"id":58438,"date":"2025-03-18T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=58438"},"modified":"2025-03-18T09:33:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T13:33:43","slug":"new-program-trains-next-generation-of-drone-pilots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2025\/new-program-trains-next-generation-of-drone-pilots\/","title":{"rendered":"New program trains next generation of drone pilots"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Weekendlong courses prepare professionals for FAA certification<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do wedding photographers, real estate agents, inspectors and land surveyors have in common?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Answer: They\u2019re all using drones to elevate their business. Whether it\u2019s capturing aerial photos of special events and houses for sale or creating 3D maps of structures and properties, working professionals in a variety of industries are growing increasingly reliant on using drones to get the job done. To do any of those things, however, requires a remote pilot certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA lot of people don\u2019t know that,\u201d said John Sibole<\/strong>, former aviation program director at EMU Lancaster. \u201cThey think, \u2018Oh, if I\u2019m using a drone for a nonprofit, then I don\u2019t need this certificate,\u2019 but that\u2019s not true. You need it for anything you do beyond strictly recreational flying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remote pilot certificate, also known as an FAA Part 107 certificate, is required by the U.S. government for anyone operating a drone beyond recreational purposes. The written knowledge test to earn this credential can be a challenging one, especially for those without a background in aviation.<\/p>\n\n\n

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John Sibole will instruct the courses for the new Drone Certification Program.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Fortunately, for those seeking a pathway to commercial drone piloting, a new program at EMU can help prepare them for this test. Offered at both the Harrisonburg and Lancaster campuses through EMU Continuing and Professional Education, the noncredit Drone Certification Program will equip participants with the skills needed for safe and innovative drone operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants in the program will spend 20 hours of instructional time, from Friday afternoon to Monday morning, learning about essential subjects for the exam: drone regulations, the National Airspace System, weather and preflight planning. The final four hours of the course will involve hands-on experience piloting a drone. After completing the course, participants can schedule the exam at a designated testing center, with locations in Lancaster and Charlottesville. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe demand for skilled drone operators is growing across industries, and EMU is excited to offer a program that meets this need,\u201d said Dr. Tynisha Willingham<\/strong>, provost at EMU. \u201cThis course not only prepares professionals for FAA certification but also empowers them to use drones in innovative and impactful ways.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upcoming course dates include March 28-31 in Harrisonburg and May 2-5 at EMU Lancaster in Lititz, Pennsylvania. For more dates and information, visit: emu.edu\/graduate\/drone<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sibole, who has over 50 years of professional aviation experience, including service as an FAA inspector, will provide instruction for the courses. He said the program\u2019s in-person training and its concentrated nature sets it apart from other courses, which are done online. \u201cHere, you actually get to fly a drone,\u201d Sibole said, \u201cwhich wouldn\u2019t be possible through an online course.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program is designed to support busy professionals from diverse fields such as agriculture, construction, public safety, live events and sports, though Sibole said it\u2019ll be useful for anyone looking to add another tool to their toolbox. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a catchy line the former head of the FAA once said,\u201d shared Sibole. \u201cWe\u2019ve had the jet age, the space age, and now we\u2019re in the drone age.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Watch this video of EMU students, faculty and alumni learning to pilot drones during a training session in September.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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