Want to fly a drone? New FSU program will teach you how
<a href=“Want to fly a drone? New FSU program will teach you how”>http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2014/12/11/want-fly-drone-new-fsu-program-will-teach/20262433/</a>
Imagine this scenario:</p>
<p>You couldn’t decide which high-tech appliance to buy, a flat-screen TV or a drone. Now that they are priced about the same, you decide you can live with the TV you have. Heck, who doesn’t want to be the first on their block to own a drone?</p>
<p>But now what?</p>
<p>That’s easy. You sign up for the new drone certificate program being offered at Florida State University, a Board of Governors approved program that is the first of its kind in the State University System.</p>
<p>The first course, on the use of unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS – that’s the technical term for drones – begins next month and 35 students have signed up.</p>
<p>David Merrick, deputy director of FSU’s Emergency Management and Homeland Security program, said state and federal officials were eager to have FSU training drone operators. FSU oversaw the use of drones for disaster planning in Haiti 18 months ago, and it quickly became clear that there were countless domestic applications for the technology, Merrick said.</p>
<p>“Right now there are very few places where you can learn how to put these systems to effective use,” he said.</p>
<p>The first course in the certificate program (15 credit hours for graduate students; 12 for undergrads) will not involve flying – OK, operating – a drone, but learning about the many applications for drones.</p>
<p>“As a hobbyist, as a private citizen, you could purchase a $500 drone and fly it for your own use,” Merrick said.</p>
<p>As a public entity, FSU was required to receive Federal Aviation Administration approval for its course. The certificate program is designed to teach students how to use drones to enhance public safety, whether it’s weather-related or another function. A certificate also could lead to employment, as use of drones increases in the public and private sectors.</p>
<p>Consider that Amazon is in the process of figuring out how to use drones to make tens of thousands of deliveries daily.</p>
<p>The projected economic impact of unmanned aircraft systems in Florida is $2.8 billion from 2015 and 2025, primarily in jobs, Merrick said.</p>
<p>“We’re all very excited about (the certificate program),” he said. “The key is this is another skill set students can acquire at the university that will help differentiate them from other graduates that will help them find a job.”