Basic Drone Pilot Course
Basic Drone Pilot
The introductory course that prepares students for the Drone Pilot career pathway.
Basic Drone Pilot introduces students to unmanned aviation concepts, drone flight fundamentals, and safe operating practices. This course provides the foundation students need before entering FAA Part 107 certification preparation.
Recommended Grade Levels
This course is typically offered to students in 9th and 10th grade and serves as the entry point into the drone pilot pathway.
Course Standards
The Basic Drone Pilot course is aligned to the following instructional standards and objectives.
| Standard | Description | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 101.00 | Understand the Foundations of Aviation Systems | 35% |
| 101.01 | Understand the evolution of manned and unmanned aviation systems. | 5% |
| 101.02 | Understand airspace classifications and regulatory constraints relevant to small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) operations. | 5% |
| 101.03 | Understand aerodynamic principles and physical forces that govern flight performance and stability. | 5% |
| 102.00 | Understand Unmanned Aircraft Systems Design and Functionality | 25% |
| 102.01 | Understand UAS subsystems and components in relation to functionality, performance, and operational constraints. | 20% |
| 102.02 | Differentiate between categories and configurations of UAS based on use cases and design characteristics. | 5% |
| 103.00 | Understand Aeronautical Charts for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems | 20% |
| 103.01 | Understand aeronautical chart components to determine airspace structure and operational boundaries. | 10% |
| 103.02 | Interpret chart symbology and legends to support safe and compliant flight planning. | 5% |
| 103.03 | Apply chart supplements and supporting documentation to inform sUAS operational decision-making. | 5% |
| 104.00 | Apply Autonomous Flight Systems and Programming Concepts | 15% |
| 104.01 | Apply foundational programming concepts to develop and modify autonomous behaviors in sUAS platforms. | 10% |
| 104.02 | Understand pre-programmed flight applications and mission automation tools including their operational effectiveness and limitations. | 5% |
| 105.00 | Apply Regulatory and Safety Procedures for Recreational sUAS Operations | 5% |
| 105.01 | Apply structured mission planning procedures to recreational sUAS operations. | 2% |
| 105.02 | Implement operational safety protocols and risk management strategies in UAS flight activities. | 2% |
| 105.03 | Apply procedures used to obtain The Recreational Unmanned Safety Test (TRUST). | 1% |
Course Curriculum
- History of unmanned aviation
- Careers in the drone industry
- Drone flight systems
- Safe drone operations
- Aviation maps
- Block-code programming
- Autonomous drone missions
- FAA TRUST certification preparation
Course Assessments
- Knowledge quizzes
- Safety evaluations
- Programming performance tasks
- Autonomous mission completion
- TRUST readiness review