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Preparing students for careers in the drone industry

By General Aviation News Staff · September 1, 2020 ·

The FAA has selected 26 schools — so far — to participate in the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS-CTI). 

The UAS-CTI program recognizes institutions that prepare students for careers in UAS, commonly referred to as drones.

The following schools meet the eligibility guidelines and have been selected to participate in the program: 

Flight traiing with a Draganfly drone.
  • Blue Mountain Community College, Pendleton, Oregon
  • Central Oregon Community College, Bend, Oregon
  • Dakota College, Bottineau, North Dakota
  • Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona
  • Green River College, Auburn, Washington
  • Gulf Coast Community College, Panama City, Florida
  • Hazard Community and Technical College, Hazard, Kentucky
  • Hinds Community College, Bolton, Mississippi
  • Idaho State University, Poncatello, Idaho
  • Indiana State University, Terra Haute, Indiana
  • MiraCosta College, Carlsbad, California
  • Mountain Empire Community College, Big Stone Gap, Virginia
  • Mountwest Community and Technical College, Huntington, West Virginia
  • Niagara Community College, Sanborn, New York
  • North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
  • Northeastern Technical College, Cheraw, South Carolina
  • Northland Community and Technical College, Thief River Falls, Minnesota
  • Northwestern Michigan College, Traverse, Michigan
  • Oklahoma City Community College, Stillwater, Oklahoma
  • Palomar College District, San Marcos, California
  • Santa Rosa Junior College, Windsor, California
  • Southwestern College, Chula Vista, California
  • Tallahassee Community College, Tallahassee, Florida
  • University of Maine at Augusta, August, Maine
  • University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota
  • WSU Tech, Wichita, Kansas

The FAA launched the UAS-CTI program in April 2020.

“Participating institutions will engage with the FAA, other participants, general industry, local governments, law enforcement, and regional economic development entities to address labor force needs,” FAA officials explained. “This collaboration will ensure that UAS-CTI school graduates have the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a successful career in a UAS-related field.”

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