The adoption of drone technology by public safety, countless commercial industry segments, military and government organizations, and the general public has created a large need for educated, trained and certified drone operators and other related positions throughout the drone ecosystem. Additionally, the north Texas marketplace has become a hot bed for proof-of-concept activities related to consumer drone delivery services, powered by industry leaders Zipline®, Google’s Wing®, WalMart®, and others. The Dallas/Ft. Worth test market is designed to provide real world operations and data that will assist the FAA in developing Universal Traffic Management (UTM) rules that will allow widespread drone operations around the country without special authorizations or expensive ground-based infrastructure.
USI President and CEO, Josh Olds, remarked “We spent the greater part of 2024 getting to know Dallas College, their staff and management team. It was incredibly impressive to witness firsthand the passion that they all carry related to developing and offering programs that provide their students with job ready knowledge and skills that will translate into exciting and rewarding career opportunities.” Olds added, “The drone industry is evolving in front of our eyes, and the FAA is working hard to establish rules and regulations designed to safely allow these aircraft to perform more complex and valuable missions for their operators. These new regulations will further accelerate the growth of the industry and the need for skilled workers. USI certifications are aligned with FAA requirements and additionally they are consistent with internationally recognized best practices standards and endorsed by aviation insurance underwriters. USI uses the exact same training and certification program for our commercial customers, which translates into immediate recognition and respect when they review applications for new drone staff members.”
“Dallas College has built a strong reputation for providing accessible, high-quality educational opportunities that empower individuals and support workforce needs, driving regional and national economic growth,” said Dr. Shawnda Floyd, provost at Dallas College. “We are so pleased to be partnering with USI to provide this new drone program that will produce industry ready candidates for this emerging aerospace industry.”
Dallas College will be offering a series of free introductory programs designed to allow participants to prepare for their FAA Part 107 Certification, a requirement for anyone operating drones in a commercial environment. The first workshop starts April 7, 2025, and you can find more information and registration information here: www.UASBootcamp.com.
