For Immediate Release:
September 18, 2024
Primary Media Contact:
Sally Voth
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
Phone: 540-868-7134
Looking for a fast way to get your start in an ever-growing career field? Laurel Ridge Community College’s upcoming – and affordable – Drone Pilot Boot Camps might be just what you’re looking for.
Upcoming boot camps for UMS (unmanned systems) 195: Drone Pilot Ground School are being held this October and November on the Fauquier Campus. Classes meet online in the evenings twice per week, with three hours of field work – students will get to fly drones – on Saturdays at the Fauquier Campus. The first camp is Oct. 7 – 19, and the second session is Oct. 28 – Nov. 9.
“The coursework in these boot camps aligns with the aeronautical knowledge required for FAA-approved commercial operations as a remote pilot with a small-unmanned-aircraft-systems (sUAs) rating, and prepares students to take the FAA Part 107 exam,” said Assistant Dean of Professional Programs Rachel Dodson. “Drone/sUAS operators are in demand in a variety of industries with potential commercial uses, including disaster response; police, fire and EMS response and investigation; scientific research; agriculture; farming, ranching, livestock and wildlife surveys; pipeline and powerline inspection; industrial and residential inspection; delivery and transport; and aerial photography.”
Relevant topics covered in the course include FAA regulations for drones; airspace classifications and flight restrictions; emergency procedures; loading and performance; maintenance and inspection procedures and crew resource management.
After completing the program and successfully passing the FAA Part 107 exam, students who wish to further their drones education with a career studies certificate in sUAS flight operator will receive credit for prior learning in the UMS 107 portion of the certificate.
Laurel Ridge’s drones program has been recognized by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicles Systems International (AUVSI) as a first-place winner in the Workforce Development category during the XCELLENCE Awards. It has received funding from GO Virginia, a business-led economic development initiative.
The boot camps, which are open to adults and students aged 16 and older, are being taught by Tad Yergey and Laurel Ridge alumnus Cody Williams, who originally graduated with an associate degree in general studies before continuing his education at the college, earning a career studies certificate (CSC) in the drones field.
“I was always interested in drones because it is a fairly new discipline,” Williams said. “I figured it would be a fun career.”
While his full-time job is at a golf course, Williams has been working as a drone photographer since earning his CSC.
“It’s just a cool career,” he said. “There are a lot of applications for it and it’s still a growing field that is good to get into right now.”
Laurel Ridge outreach specialist/career coach Brandon Doores has also been picking up work in the drones arena after taking the drone pilot course in January. He was helping at an outreach event in September 2023 when adjunct instructor Yergey started telling him about opportunities earning a drones credential could lead to.
“I’ve always had an interest in flying drones, but I just thought it was an expensive hobby; I didn’t realize all the different things you can do with a drone to make money,” said Doores, who attended Laurel Ridge before transferring to Virginia Commonwealth University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in human resources. “You can make some good, fast side money. I have friends who are real estate agents, so I’ve taken numerous photos for friends.”
He has also taken aerial photos for neighbors looking to sell their homes and spoken to actor friends looking to make videos for social media. Doores said the camera quality on drones is “crazy.” He is even considering ways he can incorporate drone work into his outreach duties for the college, and is hoping to take the drones flight technician course to learn how to do repairs.
The boot camp is $169 for in-state students, and $384 for all others. This cost includes a voucher to take the FAA Part 107 credential exam, which is about $175. Each camp is limited to 12 students.
Learn more about the program and sign up at https://laurelridge.edu/degree/certified-remote-pilot-boot-camp/.
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Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With three locations — Middletown, Warrenton, and Luray-Page County — the College serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont regions. The localities are the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. Laurel Ridge offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines, in addition to providing access to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs offered on site by a four-year institution. Laurel Ridge also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. Laurel Ridge serves more than 9,000 unduplicated credit students and more than 11,000 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.
Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Laurel Ridge Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Laurel Ridge Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities. Laurel Ridge shall promote and maintain equal employment and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupational qualification), status as a veteran, national origin, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment. Inquiries may be directed to the Associate Vice President, Human Resources, [email protected], 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645, 540-868-7226.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.
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