Northwestern State University of Louisiana will be hosting a comprehensive, two-day prep course to prepare those interested to take the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Remote Pilot Certification.
This course is designed as a beginner-friendly two-day class, where participants will learn the necessary material to pass the exam to get their FAA Remote Pilot Certification. This class will be open to the public, including students, staff and anyone interested in the general use of commercial drone use.
This course is set to begin on Sept. 13-14 in room 107 in John S. Kyser Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at a cost of $250. You can register and find more information for the course here.
This course will be instructed by the Advanced, Remote and Geospatial Operations (ARGO) Lab of NSU.
“We will cover things such as law and policy that covers drone operations, we will teach airspace and aviation as it relates to the weather,” JD Cox, an assistant professor and coordinator of the ARGO Lab. “Also, what is called aeronautical decision making, which is a way to manage stress and deal with situations that may occur while your drone is in the air.”
The course is meant to break down all the information that you need to pass the exam on your first time. “We will be basically providing the information that is necessary for a person to successfully take the exam,” Cox stated.
According to the FAA, if you are a first-time pilot you must be at least 16 years old and be able to read, speak, write and understand English. You must be in a physical and mental condition to safely fly a drone and pass the initial aeronautical knowledge exam: “Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG).”
Certificate holders must complete an online recurrent training every 24 calendar months to maintain aeronautical knowledge.
Adelaide Soileau, a natural resource specialist for the ARGO Lab, will be one of the instructors for this course.
“I feel like this is something that hasn’t been offered a lot, to teach people about this test before they go and spend a bunch of money and maybe fail it a couple of times. I’m excited for everyone to come down here and learn some stuff and maybe get more interested in our lab,” Soileau said.
While this course is meant to prepare you for the exam, the cost does not cover the price of the actual exam. The FAA Remote Pilot Certification Exam is administered at an approved testing center and is not included in the course fee. The cost for the exam is approximately $175, payable directly to the testing provider, as stated in the ARGO Lab fee.
Currently, the NSU ARGO Lab is not authorized to offer the exam, but Cox said that they are in the process to become an official FAA test taking center. “Hopefully by the next calendar year, we’ll be able to not only offer training but be able to schedule your test with our testing center in the library,” Cox said.
Don’t miss out on this chance to take the next step in your drone career. And if not, this can be the start of your drone career.
Contact the ARGO Lab at [email protected] or 318-357-6174 or JD Cox at [email protected] for further questions.
