Drones for “Non-Hobby” Use Require an FAA Remote Pilot License
The FAA requires that all persons flying a drone for “non-hobby” use obtain an FAA remote pilot license (known as a Part 107 license) by taking a 60-question written test. Since teaching is considered a “non-hobby” use, any faculty member who will instruct students to fly a drone must obtain an FAA license by passing the FAA exam.
To help prepare community college instructors for this exam, Gerald Bernstein, ATRE Assistant DSN in the Bay Area, has created a two-day Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Test Prep course. Bernstein is a private pilot and Aeronautical Engineer by training, and utilized his experience in these areas, as well as his success passing the FAA exam, to create the course content.
So far, it the course has been given to approximately 35 Bay Area faculty from diverse programs and of the four who have gone on to take the FAA exam, all have passed.
For more information about the sUAS Test Prep course, contact Pamela Gutman, ATRE DSN in the Bay Area at ce_pgutman@ccsf.edu.
