YC students benefit from new drone rules
You may recall that in August, 2014 the Blog reported that a new program was under development at the Chino Valley campus of Yavapai Community College that involves drones and a partnership with SWIFT Radio planes. Swift Radio planes is a local Prescott business that manufactures unmanned aircraft. The unmanned aircraft systems, known as drones, would be used for safety programs, “including fire sciences, emergency management and agricultural studies.”
The drone program began in the Spring of 2015.
In June, 2016 the Federal Government promulgated regulations regarding the operation of drones. According to a press release from Yavapai Community College, “the rules – Part 107 of the Federal Aviation Regulations – are a major step toward opening the nation’s airspace to drones. The new regulations will help students move quickly through the operator testing process, positioning them well for employment.”
Drones “are going to be replacing all kinds of manned aircraft and doing things manned aircraft never did in the first place,” said Yavapai College Associate Professor of Aviation, Matt Mintzmyer. “The industry is pretty wide open. Students will have job opportunities and be able to go out in the industry, or create their own business from the ground up.”
The college’s drone program was launched in the spring, capitalizing both on emerging markets for drone technology and increased interest in drone operation. Mintzmyer envisions the program growing as a result of the FAA essentially clearing the way for small, unmanned aircraft.
The drone program at Yavapai Community College is “at the forefront of the industry and comprehensive – more so than other colleges and universities that have jumped on the UAS bandwagon,” Mintzmyer said. “We train on everything you need to know for the operator certificate,” including building and operating drones, operational safety, rules and regulations and entrepreneurship. “We’ve got a really solid program.”
The CTEC program is not available to high school students on the East side of the County.
You may read the press release from Yavapai College by clicking here.