drones

Formal drone education: is it worth it?

Posted by Dronerator

Next up in our “Ask Drone Girl” series is a question about getting a formal drone education. If you have a question for Drone Girl, contact her here.

I work for my father-in-law who has owned a mosquito business for the past 19 years. We are testing the waters with the UAS and thinking about doing larvicide treatments for mosquitoes for our customers and for our city and county municipal clients.

My question is: What is the benefit of attending a college or institution to obtain either a degree or certificate for operating UVS or UAS? I currently have no experience whatsoever with UAS. There’s an FFA approved UAS-CTI school about an hour from my front door. Is it worth time (and money, about $6,000) to enroll?

I’m thrilled to see you exploring UAS (unmanned aerial systems) for mosquito control. Drones have proven to be game-changers in agriculture and pest management, offering precision, efficiency, and reduced environmental impact compared to traditional methods.

Let’s dive into your question about whether attending a college or institution for a UAS degree or certificate is worth the investment for your business.

The benefits of attending a UAS-CTI school

  1. FAA-Approved Curriculum: Since you’re new to UAS, attending a UAS-Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) school ensures you get structured, hands-on education directly aligned with FAA standards. You’ll learn not only how to operate drones safely and effectively but also dive into airspace regulations, maintenance, and mission planning—all critical for for-hire drone operations.
  2. Industry-Specific Training: A good UAS program often includes specialized training, such as how to use agricultural or spray drones, which is directly applicable to larvicide treatments. You’ll gain practical experience with the equipment and software commonly used in pest control.
  3. Networking Opportunities: Schools like these are hubs for meeting industry professionals, instructors, and peers who might become valuable contacts. They may also help you connect with vendors and manufacturers that provide mosquito control-specific drones or attachments.
  4. Boost Credibility: A UAS certificate or degree signals to clients—especially city and county municipal ones—that your business values professionalism and safety. This credential can give you an edge over competitors.
  5. Business Expansion: Beyond mosquito control, you’ll learn how drones can serve other purposes, such as surveillance, mapping, or data collection, opening doors to expand your services.

Drawbacks of attending a UAS-CTI school

As you’re clearly aware, the drawbacks of getting a formal drone education are the financial investment, as well as the time commitment.

Alternative drone education

If you’re hesitant about the time or financial investment, you might consider these alternatives. All of these UAS-CTI school alternatives are either cheaper or require less time. Many are online courses, which you can do from the comfort of your own home.

Self-guided learning + FAA Part 107 Certification

Start by studying for the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, which is mandatory for commercial drone operations. Plenty of Part 107 resources and courses can help you prepare for under $500. The best Part 107 courses are even cheaper (think $300 or less) and can be done online. Though, there are in-person courses that might jive better with your learning style.

Shorter workshops or industry-specific training

Getting your Part 107 is a critical step in launching a drone business, but it won’t teach you the specifics around using drones to combat mosquitoes. This is where specialization comes in.

Some companies, like DJI or PrecisionHawk, offer workshops on specific drone applications like spraying or mapping. For better or for worse, these workshops are somewhat disguised as a sales pitch. But, use it to your benefit by using them as a low-cost (or sometimes even free) training method. The best way to find these is by going directly to those websites, such as the DJI Enterprise Events site.

Drone manufacturer (or authorized details) training

Once you purchase an enterprise level drone, many manufacturers offer training programs tailored to their systems. Again, some of these are paid, while others are relatively affordable. For example, Drone Nerds is my recommended authorized drone dealer, and they offer a robust set of training.

Consider the $6K investment in a formal drone education

Considering the potential for drones to transform your mosquito business, a $6,000 investment in a formal drone education could pay off significantly in the long run. If you’re serious about scaling your operations, gaining specialized skills, and staying ahead of industry trends, the UAS-CTI program sounds like a fantastic opportunity. That said, if you’re unsure, you might test the waters with self-study and shorter courses to confirm your interest before committing.

Finally, remember that UAS technology is evolving rapidly, so ongoing education and training are part of the journey. Best of luck with your venture into drone operations — and a killer use case!

If you have a question for Drone Girl, contact her here.

The post Formal drone education: is it worth it? appeared first on The Drone Girl.

Understanding the New Jersey Drone Sightings: Separating Fact from Fiction

Posted by Dronerator

Warren County Community College’s Will Austin Shares Insights on Public Misconceptions, and the Role of Education Recent reports of nighttime drone sightings in New Jersey have sparked widespread concern, with some citizens raising alarms about large drones and potential security risks. The sightings were the focus of yesterday’s Congressional hearing titled “Safeguarding the Homeland from […]

The post Understanding the New Jersey Drone Sightings: Separating Fact from Fiction appeared first on DRONELIFE.

Congressional Hearing Reveals Gaps in Counter-Drone Readiness Amid Concerns About N.Y./N.J. Drone Sightings

Posted by Dronerator

 For clarity and depth, we’ve divided our coverage of the recent Congressional hearing on drone activity into two parts. This article, Part 1, focuses on federal officials’ testimony regarding unexplained drone incursions in New York and New Jersey and the broader challenges facing counter-drone operations. Part 2 will delve into insights from private-sector experts on […]

The post Congressional Hearing Reveals Gaps in Counter-Drone Readiness Amid Concerns About N.Y./N.J. Drone Sightings appeared first on DRONELIFE.

WAVENET RF Engineering and UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía Successfully Perform the First Flights of a UAV Using Radio Positioning Algorithms in GNSS-Denied Environments

Posted by Dronerator
– WAVENET RF Engineering, a renowned Spanish company dedicated to the design and development of radio frequency systems and specializing in unmanned vehicle systems, with the collaboration of UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía, a leading Spanish company in advanced guidance, navigation and control systems for unmanned aerial systems, are developing, under the COINCIDENTE 2022 program financed by […]

Schiebel CAMCOPTER S-100 Successfully Demonstrates New Radar Capability In Canada

Posted by Dronerator
– Schiebel, in collaboration with MDA Space, has successfully demonstrated IMSAR’s NSP Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) with Ground and Maritime Moving Target Indication (GMTI and MMTI) capabilities during a one-week intensive trial at the Foremost UAS Test Range in Western Canada. The successful integration of the IMSAR NSP radar system to the CAMCOPTER S-100 was […]

Austin Signs New Strategy for Countering Effects of Unmanned Systems

Posted by Dronerator
The Defense Department has announced that Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has recently signed a new, classified strategy for countering the effects of unmanned systems. According to an unclassified fact sheet released by the department, unmanned systems are increasing in capability and are posing ever-increasing threats to the U.S. and its allies. “Enabled […]

Dassault’s Neuron Combat Drone Resumes Operations

Posted by Dronerator
According to information published by Challenges magazine on December 4, 2024, after a decade of successful trials and a brief period in storage, the Neuron stealth combat drone demonstrator, developed by Dassault Aviation, is set to resume operations. This strategic decision marks a critical step in the advancement of French aerial capabilities as the Ministry of Armed […]

Advancing Autonomy: Ondas and Autonomy Institute Collaborate on Texas SH130 Drone Corridor

Posted by Dronerator

Intelligent Infrastructure Economic Zone to Support Inspections, Public Safety, and Economic Growth with Optimus Drone Systems by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNab The Autonomy Institute, a group of more than 300 corporate partners aiming to advance autonomy technology in the United States, and Ondas Holdings Inc., a US-based autonomous drone developer, recently announced Ondas […]

The post Advancing Autonomy: Ondas and Autonomy Institute Collaborate on Texas SH130 Drone Corridor appeared first on DRONELIFE.

China’s Export Restrictions on Drone Parts Could Reshape Global Supply Chains

Posted by Dronerator

Limitations May Impact Ukraine, the U.S., and Europe as Drone Technology Evolves in Wartime The Chinese government plans to implement stricter controls on the export of drone parts in early 2025. This shift is already affecting manufacturers and buyers across the globe. According to reports, Chinese companies have reduced or halted sales of batteries, motors, […]

The post China’s Export Restrictions on Drone Parts Could Reshape Global Supply Chains appeared first on DRONELIFE.

Could this Texas superhighway pave a future for increased drone use?

Posted by Dronerator

Imagine driving along a 92-mile stretch of highway in Texas where industrial-grade drones buzz overhead, autonomously managing tasks like security, traffic monitoring and emergency response. This vision is inching closer to reality on Texas State Highway 130 (SH130). No longer just a road for cars, it’s becoming a Texas superhighway.

This “superhighway” has been increasing its Texas footprint for a while now (in fact, SH130 IIEZ has been developing for over four years), but today it’s adding a drone component. The drone aspect of this Texas superhighway stems from a collaboration between Austin, Texas-based Autonomy Institute and drone company Ondas Holdings, whose subsidiaries include Israel drone maker Airobotics, Inc. The goal? Turning a corridor in the Lone Star State into a high-tech hub for all sorts of 24/7 autonomous drone operations.

A new era of drone integration on Texas SH130

Texas superhighway

The SH130 corridor connects key regions in Central Texas. But besides being a major traffic artery, it’s becoming a proving ground for all sorts of intelligent infrastructure, drones and otherwise. For example, it also supports autonomous cars, trucks and shuttles.

Today, drones enter the mix. Through what’s called an Intelligent Infrastructure Economic Zone (IIEZ), the Autonomy Institute will instal drone “zones” along the highway. That will enable continuous drone operations across a 30-square-mile area per zone for tasks encompassing inspections, security and public safety.

At the heart of this initiative is Ondas’ Optimus System, a fully autonomous drone platform designed for remote operation without the need for on-site human intervention. These drones launch from smart airbases equipped with automated battery-swapping technology, ensuring uninterrupted service for use cases like inspections and public safety. The Optimus System has already been used in the UAE and Israel. Now, its deployment on SH130 marks a major milestone for autonomous drone technology in the U.S.

Why Texas?

A Wing “Nest” drone delivery facility at a Walmart store in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Hamilton Nguyen)

Texas has earned a reputation as a national leader in drone innovation, particularly in public safety and disaster response. Projects like Wing’s drone delivery service and collaborations between state and local agencies have positioned the state as a hotbed for drones. In fact, some people even riff on the term ‘Lone Star State,’ now calling it the “Drone Star State.”

“Texas is the undeniable leader in the use of UAS by public safety, and the mission sets are as diverse as the state itself,” said Jason Day of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The SH130 IIEZ is also uniquely positioned to support some of the state’s largest employers, including Tesla, Samsung, Amazon and H-E-B, all of which line the corridor. The project’s leaders suggest that businesses along the corridor will benefit from enhanced security, streamlined operations and access to real-time data collected by these drones. Even in Austin alone, city officials have identified more than 100 drone use cases across a dozen departments, including Austin Energy, Austin Fire, Austin Water, City Planning, Police, Parks, Transportation and Public Works.

Drones providing scalable, cost-effective technology in this superhighway for the future

Dubbed the “modern-day Route 66,” SH130 could redefine what a highway can be. No longer just a physical road for cars, it could support fully autonomous drone zones and Intelligent Infrastructure Economic Zones.

Giving those companies and entities easier access to Ondas’ Optimus System along the corridor could be key in enabling increased drone use. By operating as shared infrastructure, public and private stakeholders can focus on their core tasks without worrying about the logistics of drone operations. For instance, drones can quickly assess fires, accidents and other emergencies, enabling faster response times and reducing costs. Plus, data generated from superhighway drones could contribute to longer-term urban planning and transportation efficiency.

And while the SH130 project is certainly a local initiative, it could be a signal of what’s to come for the future of intelligent infrastructure. For now, it highlights Texas’ role as a leader in drone technology.

The post Could this Texas superhighway pave a future for increased drone use? appeared first on The Drone Girl.