Twelve Students Take Part In Introductory Training Session August 10

Danville Community College (DCC) students got a bird’s eye view of the world earlier this month thanks to the college’s new drone/unmanned aerial systems (UAS) class. Twelve students joined DCC Instructor Steven Carrigan for a three-hour introductory training session at the college on Friday, August 10, and then got to stretch their wings on Saturday during the hands-on portion at a remote site in Pittsylvania County.

 
Dry Fork resident David “Hutch” Hutcheson said that the introductory course delivered exactly what he was looking for.
 
“It was an excellent class and I’m also taking the full class to get my license for instructing cadets in Civil Air Patrol,” Hutcheson said. “We are part of the Air Force and we meet at Tunstall High School. I will also use it for videos in my video business Virginia Multimedia. I’ve flown jets with the Air National Guard, as well as private planes. I’m just as excited about what I can do with drones in my video business.”
 
Carrigan had some help instructing the students on the dos and don’ts of drone flight.
 
“Shane Mitchell, Dale Nesselroade, Samantha Smith-Herndon, and Vincent Kendrick, all Certified 107 Pilots, donated their time to help me with my students,” Carrigan said. “With their help, we managed to keep five drones flying at the same time so nobody had to sit and wait too long to get their turn. These individuals will also be teaching with me in the upcoming training classes.”
 
Carrigan explained that the applications of drone flight are about as limited as a person’s own imagination, including documentaries, news broadcasts, and live television events, real estate advertisement, farming, including livestock and vegetation, search and rescue, emergency crews, forestry, including fire prevention and identification, and personal land management, including hunting and security.
 
“Remote pilot certification is important because of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) laws surrounding drone flight,” Carrigan said. “The number one thing to understand when flying a drone is that ignorance of the law is no excuse and you are held responsible for any violations or damage you may cause.”
 
If you are a hobbyist, flying just for fun, and not making money with it, Carrigan added, no certification is required.
 
“You are still required to follow all FAA rules,” Carrigan said. “If you fly professionally, meaning if you make money or are given something tangible in return for the video or photographs and flight, then certification is required. This includes flying for the company you own or for your employer.”
 
Graduates of the UAS/drone program will successfully pass the Remote Pilot 107 industry certification. Students are currently flying the following DJI drone models: Phantom 3, Phantom 4, and Inspire 1.

(Image provided with Danville Community College news release)

FMI: www.danville.edu