NDSU reintroduces course to prepare students for drone pilot certification

The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at NDSU will once again offer a course designed to prepare students to fly drones commercially. The department first offered a trial version of the course in 2022.

Agricultural Technology 291, Drone Pilot Certification Prep, is open to all students, with an emphasis on non-traditional students. The eight-week course will be offered in a hybrid format, combining in-person instruction with remote, asynchronous learning.

Students will explore a variety of topics related to drone operation, including airspace classifications, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, flight restrictions, operating requirements, weather considerations and FAA reporting requirements.

After completing the course, students will be prepared to successfully complete the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 test that is needed by users to fly drones commercially.

Leon Schumacher, professor and chair of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, said the course will benefit students interested in careers across a variety of industries where drones are increasingly used to improve efficiency, save time and enhance safety.

Agriculture is one industry where drone technology is making a significant impact. Drones can help monitor crop health, apply treatments and track livestock, providing producers and agricultural consultants with valuable information while reducing the time and labor required for certain tasks.

“This training is important as it allows a consultant to help the producer to remotely manage Animals or Crops,” Schumacher said. “A crop consultant can use a drone to determine the weeds that may impact crop production. And a drone can be used to apply a herbicide to control the weeds. An animal consultant would be able to determine if water is needed for their livestock by just flying a drone over a pasture. They could also use a drone to determine where a fence needs repair. The drone can be flown remotely, and this could save much time for the producer.”

Other industries that utilize drones include construction and real estate, infrastructure and utilities, as well as warehousing and logistics.

The course will be taught by Adrian Lund, an assistant professor of Practice in ABEN. For more information about AGT 291, contact Lund at adrian.lund@ndsu.edu.