The Unmanned Safety Institute, a subsidiary of ARGUS International, Inc. and the leading provider of educational curriculum and industry certifications to students interested in a career as professional remote pilots, is proud to announce over 700 students have successfully obtained the Small UAS Safety Certification during the 2016-2017 school year. According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, there will be an estimated 400,000 to 2.3 million licensed remote pilots by 2020. The Small UAS Safety Certification was established as part of a workforce development program to prepare students to an industry best practice standard for a career in the growing commercial drone industry.
Students who successfully complete the curriculum program, administered by a USI certified instructor, are eligible to take USI’s credentialing exam leading to the Small UAS Safety Certification, an industry certification demonstrating expertise in the safe and professional application of remotely piloted aircraft in the National Airspace System, making them highly qualified for careers in the growing Unmanned Aircraft Systems industry.
“Unmanned Safety Institute’s goal has always been to create a pathway for students interested in the UAS industry,” said Aaron Greenwald, president of Unmanned Safety Institute. “This academic year, USI has been extremely successful in creating those pathways. As we partner with a rapidly growing number of UAS Industry representatives, high schools, colleges and universities, we hope to give a greater number of students around the country this same opportunity.”
The Small UAS Safety Certification curriculum is comprised of four college-equivalent courses totaling over 150 hours of instruction. The program has been articulated to college credit by some of the leading colleges and universities offering degree programs in UAS — providing students the opportunity to obtain advanced standing towards a college degree or allowing them to continue directly into commercial UAS operations with a remote pilot certificate. Students learn unmanned safety fundamentals such as safety risk management, datalink management, scenario-based troubleshooting, FAA rules and regulations, human factors involved in UAS operations and UAS control. Included in the program is a supplemental workbook or textbook, instructor resources, and course content packaged in USI’s digital Learning Management System.
USI’s education program originated in the state of Florida and is now in its third year. USI’s curriculum achieved statewide articulation with the Department of Education and has grown to over 100 high schools educating over 2,500 students nationwide. This year, the program has rapidly expanded to new schools in eight new states and is widely recognized by the UAS industry as the most comprehensive curriculum of its kind preparing students for high-skill and high-wage jobs.
