Fullerton College Drone Program and FAA Host Public Drone Event
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Fullerton College drone program teamed up to give a bird’s-eye view of the growing industry during a free three-day event, Droning On: California Edition. The event offered many hands-on demonstrations and lectures to introduce the public to the fast-growing field of drone flight and to promote proper training and safe use of the aircraft.
Droning On: California Edition kicked off on July 21 at Fullerton College with a Public Service Day that included a series of panels, lectures, and demonstrations with featured companies from various public service organizations, including Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas and Electric, and many more.
The three-day event continued at Cal State Fullerton from July 22–23 with a Drone Educator Day and an Education Fun Day. Attendees could view drone demonstrations and learn about K-12 and postsecondary schools with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) programs, including the Fullerton Drone Lab at Fullerton College.
The Fullerton Drone Lab offers a variety of certificates and a degree program that trains students in drone technology and operations, focusing on three main core areas–piloting, manufacturing, and application. The program helps prepare students for careers in various fields utilizing drones, including but not limited to construction, marine biology, surveying, cinematography, and much more.
This past fall, the Fullerton Drone Lab launched the first drone pilot apprenticeship in California. The program, developed through the California Apprenticeship Initiative, can be completed within a year and move the new journeymen into the workforce.
“The Hornet Drone Pilot Apprenticeship Program provides a great opportunity to help further develop the workforce of tomorrow,” said Jay Seidel, professor, and director of the Fullerton Drone Lab. According to recent research, the demand for drone pilots is expected to grow by 51 percent over the next five years.
The Fullerton Drone Lab was one of the original members of the FAA’s Collegiate Training Initiative, and through events such as Droning On: California Edition, Seidel can strengthen Fullerton College’s partnership with the FAA, and demonstrate how the Fullerton Drone Lab is leading the way to educate this emerging workforce.
“Collaborating with the Federal Aviation Administration on education efforts to increase awareness about drones, safety, and regulations prepares the college to be a leader in this industry,” said Seidel.
The FAA started the Droning On program last year to hold events around the FAA’s seven regions to promote and raise awareness of safety and regulations for drones. Since Seidel is on the FAA’s Safety Team Drone Pro for counties in Los Angeles and Orange, he was able to pitch Fullerton College as the host for the first-ever Droning On: California Edition event. One of the many benefits of having Fullerton College as the host was that the Southern California Drone Film Festival would be held in conjunction with Droning On: California Edition. Fullerton College has hosted the Southern California Drone Film Festival since its inception in 2020. Plus, the Fullerton Drone Lab has an existing partnership with the Orange County Department of Education.
“In our version of Droning On, we expanded the FAA’s efforts to include not only higher education training and efforts, but also K-12 in the region,” said Seidel. “This expansion will help strengthen our developing K-16 pathways in autonomous systems.”
Currently, the Fullerton Drone Lab works with many partners to provide real-world drone experience for students. Whether it’s project-based learning experiences within the various courses, an internship, or the first-ever state and federally-registered drone piloting apprenticeship program, the Fullerton Drone Lab offers opportunities to work with actual clients in real situations. This provides greater experience for the students, and in turn, makes them more marketable to employers.
To learn more about Fullerton College’s drone program, visit drones.fullcoll.edu.
