Genius NY Finalist, SkyOp, Offers Drone Training Class this Summer

July 11, 2017

Intro to sUAS Drone Course starts this August at The Tech Garden

SYRACUSE, NY – SkyOp, one of six GENIUS NY finalists, is offering an Intro to sUAS drone course this summer beginning August 1 at CenterState CEO’s The Tech Garden. The 18-hour hands-on course takes students from learning to fly drones all the way through to preparing for FAA certification in just 3 weeks! To legally operate a drone for any business purpose, FAA regulations now require remote pilot certification.

“This course will provide everything you need to enter the exciting new world of commercial drone operations, whether you’re starting a new business or integrating it into your existing business” said Brian Pitre, CEO and Co-founder of SkyOp.

The course is designed for anyone looking to use a drone whether it be for real estate, construction, inspection, agriculture, photography/videography, or simply for hobbyists. Drone trained certified pilots are currently in high demand as 100,000 new drone jobs are expected to be created in the next few years.

If you're new to drone piloting, the Intro to sUAS course will give you all the vital skills and information you need to start piloting drones safely and legally and prepare for FAA certification. The comprehensive 18-hour course is designed to provide thorough instruction on drone systems, use applications, legal issues, maintenance, FAA regulations, piloting skills, and safety best practices, as well as prepare operators to successfully pass the remote pilot knowledge test and achieve FAA remote pilot certification, which is required to legally operate a drone for any business purpose.

Topics covered include flying multirotor & fixed-wing drones, indoor flight training, diverse flight systems, maintenance, registration & certification requirements, safety, insurance, industry applications, featured systems (DJI, Yuneec, etc.), emerging technologies, and the latest FAA policies. Additionally, students will gain an understanding of much of the ground-school information covered in the FAA’s knowledge test including regulations; airspace classification, interpretation of sectional navigation charts, operating requirements, and flight restrictions; aviation weather sources and effects; small unmanned aircraft loading and performance; emergency procedures; aeronautical decision-making and crew resource management; radio communication procedures; physiological effects of drugs and alcohol; airport operations; and maintenance and preflight inspection procedures.

The course fee includes a workbook, a quadcopter with camera, a computer flight simulator with radio controller, 50 FAA sample test questions, and 18 hours of instruction. Certification testing must be administered at an authorized FAA Knowledge Testing Center and the $150 test fee is NOT included in the course fee.

This course will be the first offered in Syracuse. The majority of SkyOp courses are offered at colleges and universities across the country including Hudson Valley, Niagara and Monroe Community Colleges, and several other SUNY colleges.

To sign up for the course visit www.skyop.com/classes or contact Brian Pitre at brian@skyop.com.

About SkyOp
SkyOp is an unmanned aircraft systems training company. They deliver a nationally recognized high-tech curriculum directly and through workforce development partnerships at colleges and universities throughout the country.

About GENIUS NY
GENIUS NY is an in-residence business accelerator program at The Tech Garden in Central New York that goes beyond substantial direct investment. In addition to three grand prizes of up to $1 million, $600,000 and $400,000, the program also offers company stipends, housing, resources, programming, and connections, making it among the largest competitions of its kind across the globe. The program is made possible by $5 million in funding support provided by Empire State Development, New York State’s chief economic development agency.

Contact: Elle Hanna, ehanna@centerstateceo.com, 315.470.1800, CenterState CEO