Aquiline Drones to Offer Courses at 17 Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Beginning This Fall

Hartford-based Aquiline Drones Corporation (AD), Connecticut's only drone manufacturing and technology company, has signed a multi-year agreement to offer its entire online drone pilot certification curriculum through the 17 institutions comprising Connecticut's State College and University system (CSCU). 

The robust online training program consists of two semester-length courses, including preparation for students to take the exam required to become licensed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-certified drone pilots.

"This is a proven program that will launch undergraduate and graduate students, as well as adult learners and military veterans on an upward trajectory in a field of study that is growing exponentially", said Aquiline Drones CEO Barry Alexander. “Our streamlined course will provide them with a solid foundation and unique skillset in one of the most advanced emerging technology sectors, thereby ensuring tools for employment and business success."

Specifically, the course will be offered online in two modules, allowing students to complete each at their own pace. Content is as follows:

Module 1: Introduction to Commercial Drones - guides students through the commercial drone process, FAA regulations, aerodynamics, aviation, weather theory, operating requirements, and procedures for safely flying commercial drones while preparing them for the FAA Commercial Drone Pilot (Part 107) certification exam. 

Module 2: Cloud Connected Drone Operations - introduces digital technologies that enable cloud-connected commercial drone operations, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), videography, instructions for creating a business plan, and information about career development in flying commercial drones, including developing marketing material. 

The following universities and colleges are currently under the CSCU contract to provide the new online courses: Asnuntuck Community College, Capital Community College, Gateway Community College, Housatonic Community College, Manchester Community College, Middlesex Community College, Naugatuck Valley Community College, Northwestern Connecticut Community College, Norwalk Community College, Quinebaug Valley Community College, Three Rivers Community College, Tunxis Community College, Central Connecticut State University, Eastern Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University, and Western Connecticut State University and Charter Oak State College.

Southern Connecticut State University already offers students a five-module, non-credit program, Drone Academy, geared towards both enthusiastic hobbyists and working professionals who are interested in gaining the knowledge and skills needed for drone operation, aerial photography and videography, FAA-certification exam preparation, and computational photography and 3D mapping.

AD created its online drone pilot training program – Flight to the Future - during the pandemic to remedy America's staggering unemployment rates and prepare the workforce for opportunities in the drone sector, officials explained.  Besides attracting applicants from all parts of the country in diverse industries, the company received numerous inquiries from higher education institutions that wanted to offer the training as a certification course to their student body.

Upon completion of the course, graduates will have a viable entry into employment with an opportunity to own a commercial drone business supported and flexibly financed by AD and fed drone jobs through an Uber-like drone-on-demand app to help them locate missions within their specific geography and designated industry.  Alexander notes that one of the main functions of the app is to aggregate and curate job requests for the range of drone amenities.

“Not only are we offering an exciting high-tech journey with these courses, but we are also creating limitless job opportunities in this rapidly growing space and know that students from across the state will reap those benefits,” Alexander pointed out.  “Essentially, we are creating both a demand for emerging drone services, as well as a supply of drone operator graduates to fulfill them, thus fostering a powerful workforce development cycle.”

There are many industry sectors that are being served by drone technology, according to AD officials, citing drone spray washing and other external property care services, such as cleaning of roofs, solar panels, gutters, church steeples, hotel and residential facades, insect and pest fumigation, seeding and fertilization of golf courses and residential lawns, among others.  Additional drone use applications include:

• Asset inspections; bridges, roofs, tunnels, building structures

• Agriculture and animal farming

• Delivery and logistics (medical and nonmedical)

• Aerial photography and videography

• Surveying and mapping

• Public safety, emergency responses – search and rescue 

In making the announcement, officials noted that the drone pilot training course will be available year-round at the colleges and universities. The cost for Module 1 is $1,200 and $1,600 for Module 2.  The Connecticut State College and University system is currently exploring Veterans benefits to assist with tuition. More information is available at www.aquilinedrones.com.

Aquiline Drones Corporation is a American drone manufacturer and cloud solutions company based in  Hartford, one of four drone airline companies in America, and the only one privately owned by professional aviators. Founded by CEO Barry Alexander, AD's core management comprises highly experienced aviators, systems engineers, IT gurus, military personnel (including veterans), and business strategists.