UND Aerospace student receives first-ever UAS training scholarship

University of North Dakota John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences student Kristopher Chachula has been presented with the first-ever Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) training scholarship.

The new UAS training scholarship is given to a senior graduating with a major in UAS. It will provide both the ground and flight training required for factory training in Sensurion Aerospace’s MAGPIE. This is the first UAS training scholarship awarded at UND.

Sensurion Corp.’s Dan Johnson presents his company’s training scholarship to UND UAS student Kristopher Chachula. (Photo by Juan Pedraza)

Chachula, a senior studying UAS from Orange County, Calif., received a scholarship for hands-on training in one of the world’s first FAA certified small UAS, Sensurion’s MAGPIE MP-1.

Chachula, an intern with the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, was previously a console operator for UND and NASA operating the International Space Station Agricultural Camera.

A commercial pilot, many of Chachula’s hobbies revolve around the research, operation and history of flight.

“We recognize the hard work, the career-minded diligent efforts, and your commitment to making the UAS industry the best it can be,” said Sensurion Aerospace VP for Business Development Dan Johnson, a UND Aerospace alumnus. “We are proud to be your sponsor and to have this opportunity to work hand-in-hand with one of UND’s finest. We sincerely value the relationship we have with UND and look forward to supporting their program and students for many years to come.”

Chachula’s training curriculum in the MP-1 will include classroom instruction focusing on systems, operation and field maintenance; flight training that will put him side by side with a flight instructor at the controls of the MP-1; and operational training involving the aircraft’s Ground Control System, among other programs.