Nine students in the Aviation Science and Technology program, hosted by Alanson Public Schools, are now licensed commercial drone pilots, after recently passing the FAA Part 107 licensing exam. And four students in the Unmanned Vehicle Technology class, hosted by Harbor Springs Public Schools, have passed the Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) Safety Level 1 Exam.
That means these 13 students combined are well on their way to professional careers or other paid opportunities utilizing drone technology, if they so choose. Both programs are coordinated through Char-Em ISD’s Career and Technical Education Department, and are open to students in any district.
Read more about their accomplishments:
Aviation Science and Technology students pass Federal Aviation Association (FAA) Part 107 exam
“The Part 107 license is a significant accomplishment for these students, because they are now legally able to fly a drone for commercial purposes,” said Aviation Science and Technology instructor Calvin Gillett. “That can be something as small as posting a video on a monetized Youtube channel or as big as doing major infrastructure inspections for large corporations. This license will also make them more marketable in non-aviation fields.”
Gillett added: “Obtaining a professional level certification like this while still in high school shows potential employers that these young people have the fortitude to complete difficult tasks and meet goals.”
The students who successfully passed the exam are:
Jack Dumas, junior, home district of Petoskey
Ty Galle, junior, home district of Petoskey
Zaiden Lowery, senior, home district of Petoskey
Jack Kozlowski, senior, home district of Petoskey
Lucan McNulty, senior, home district of Petoskey
Kegan Nowwicki, junior, home schooled
Calvin Wade, junior, home district of Cheboygan
Wyatt Weeber, senior, home district of Petoskey
Hailey Wiklanski, senior, home district of Petoskey
Gillett commended the students for their efforts toward preparing for the exam, which required them to get themselves to the testing center in Gaylord despite weather and technology difficulties.
“Almost every student had to reschedule their exam because of severe weather or issues with the testing center’s computer systems. But they rose above, stayed focused, and persevered,” Gillett said.
He also said the test is not easy, requiring significant preparation and studying by the students.
“It takes dedication to understand the concepts at the level necessary. These concepts include but are not limited to preflight planning, drone classifications, aeronautical decision making and safety, airspace classes and restrictions, and crew resource management,” Gillett said.
Gillett is the new aviation instructor this year, replacing Duane Enos who retired after last school year. Gillett served in the Army and spent time deployed to Iraq. When he returned home, he focused on finishing college and earned a degree in anthropology from Western Michigan University. He worked as an archaeologist for nearly 10 years, involving considerable travel. He found himself wanting to return to Northern Michigan and “be less nomadic, so I moved back home and tried my hand at a couple of different jobs until I found aviation.”
“Just before Covid (in 2020), I was working in a restaurant trying to figure out my next move when I ran into an old friend who was a pilot,” Gillett recalled. “He enthusiastically encouraged me to dive into aviation and take a flight with the local flight school. I went up a couple days later and haven’t looked down since.”
Pictured at top of page, from left, are: Lucan, Wyatt, Kegan, Ty, Zaiden, Instructor Calvin Gillett, Hailey, Jack D., Calvin, and Jack K.
Unmanned Vehicle Technology (aka drones) students pass initial safety exam
Pictured from left are Tyler, Emmet, Travis, and James.
Four students in Rob LaPoint’s drone class in Harbor Springs are well on their way to their next steps, too.
The following Harbor Springs students recently passed the USI Safety Exam: Seniors Emmet Burns and Tyler Eshelbrenner, and junior James Keiser. Harbor Light Christian School senior Travis Rose also passed the exam.
“This certification validates an individual’s foundational knowledge in small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) technology. The recipient has demonstrated comprehension of system components and interdependencies,” said LaPoint. “This certification confirms their ability to apply industry standards and contribute effectively to the upkeep and safe operation of sUAS.”
LaPoint said the next steps for the students include “learning how to use their drones for photography, videography, maps, and volume calculations.”
The students will take the FAA Part 107 exam – highlighted previously in this article about the Aviation class students – around spring break time, so they, too, will be able to start earning income with their new skills, LaPoint noted.
The Aviation Science and Technology and Unmanned Vehicle Technology classes are Char-Em ISD Career and Technical Education courses. Like all CTE programs, they are open to any student in any Char-Em school district. Visit www.charemisdcareertech.org for more information about all 23 CTE course offerings throughout the ISD.