Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Training Sessions for FAA Exam
The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Technology Program comprises four 4-hour sessions that can be delivered over two or four days. The goal is to teach participants how to safely and effectively operate drones and prepare them to take the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 Remote Pilot Knowledge Exam. The curriculum’s major topics are aeronautical charts, aviation meteorology, camera settings and sensors, flight planning and data management, and UAV flights and maintenance. Prior experience with drones is not a prerequisite. Past participants came from a variety of backgrounds with differing goals and included farmers, marketing/real estate professionals, environmental resource monitors, energy cooperatives, and public safety personnel. Class sizes range from a minimum of seven to a maximum of 18, and the class can be offered to private groups of 10 or more.
Extension Educators may attend the full training at no cost if there is space available. The program is meant to be taught by at least three educators who have obtained FAA Part 107 certification and have some familiarity with drones. Some parts of the curriculum can be taught by individuals who have not obtained their certification but have experience with drones or digital agriculture. The UAV Technology Program curriculum and supporting documents are available in the ANR Signature Programs Box folder and are continually updated to reflect changes to FAA regulations.
A recent addition to the UAV team’s arsenal is the digital agriculture van. It boasts portable technology that enables larger groups to see drone controller screens on a TV during live demonstrations. Seeing zoom, infrared, or thermal imaging can help participants better understand the technology that is available and how it can be applied to their enterprises. The van is also used to transport a wide assortment of drones to programs throughout the state.
The UAV signature program was created by Austin Pearson, Mark Carter, Scott Gabbard, Adam Shanks, Jon Charlesworth, Andrew Westfall, and John Scott and has been delivered to more than 750 people since it was piloted in 2018. Of the surveyed participants, 95% reported passing the FAA Part 107 exam. Many have told us that the class came highly recommended from co-workers and others in their industry.
We recognize that signature program participants as well as farmers and pesticide applicators may want to utilize drone technology to spray fields, specialty crops, and rights-of-way, so Educators are currently working to develop another class focused on the regulations surrounding FAA Part 137 certification.
If you are interested in joining the UAV team or taking the UAV signature program, please contact Adam Shanks (shanks7@purdue.edu) or Heidi Potter (hlpotter@purdue.edu).
Upcoming dates
- March 25-26: Martin County Fairgrounds; Val Clingerman
- March 25-26: Crawfordsville; Tricia Herr
- April 10-11: Marshall County Fairgrounds; Nikky Witkowski
- October 8-9: St. Joseph County Fairgrounds; Nikky Witkowski