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from the prospective-drone-pilots-are-looking-up dept.
Hot-air balloon pilot Richard Varney typically spends his weekends transporting tourists around central Massachusetts in a huge, multicolored balloon. But on a recent Sunday, Varney drove to a local community college and learned to fly a different type of aerial vehicle. "I want to try something new," he said as he watched an instructor demonstrate how to steer a $2,000 drone equipped with a camera. "This could help me launch a side business taking aerial photos of local towns."
Varney isn't the only one betting on this as a new vocation. At least 15 community colleges across the country now have courses that teach people how to pilot drones, according to research conducted by MIT Technology Review. The trend accelerated over the past year, after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a rule that requires people who operate drones commercially to take a test and get certified as "remote pilots."
Some four-year colleges and private companies are also training people to be drone pilots, but the community-college programs are particularly interesting because they attract diverse types of students, including adults looking to change careers. In fact, many community colleges offer drone classes through their "workforce development" and "workforce solutions" departments, which are designed to impart practical skills that people can apply immediately to their jobs or use to get new jobs, rather than conferring credits toward a college degree.
No career prospects for drone pilots in private detective agencies or reality pr0n either?
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Thursday October 05 2017, @08:56PM (6 children)
Face it, there is no chance of teaching the course - every other student who passes will also be lining up.
Colleges (companies, generally) see a potential market and try and make money from it.
This is how companies (try and) make money.
Useless college qualifications have been around a very long time..almost as long as jokes about arts degrees and fries.
The title could be changed to "Colleges are marketing courses, but career opportunities are murky" and be just as true. The drone part just makes these courses more expensive (for the student).
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 05 2017, @09:36PM (2 children)
Not really. A book keeping or business administration course along with a basic vocational course could make someone invaluable to small business.
The only advantage I see to drone flying courses would be if someone lacks the discipline to do it themselves or is surrounded by problem people who will interfere unless an activity is done in an "official" capacity. The best drone pilots build their own and race them while many event photographers and videographers now carry small drones. It's not really a field unto itself.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday October 05 2017, @10:49PM
I think he was speaking more of the less than practically useful anywhere, ever courses. Like, say, Gender Studies courses.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by tibman on Friday October 06 2017, @02:36AM
Local colleges are great for dabbling in stuff. They'll teach you about welding, hiking, 3d design (and 3d printing), carpentry and so on. Weekend after this i start a series of classes at the fire station to learn amateur radio. Only 10$ for five saturday mornings of training. My wife has taken a sign language course and a motorcycle course from the local college.
It's not about lack of motivation in a lot of cases. If you want to try out 3d printing but don't want to drop $500-2000 on hardware then you might need to join a hackerspace or academic organization.
SN won't survive on lurkers alone. Write comments.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 05 2017, @09:53PM (2 children)
Think about it.
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Thursday October 05 2017, @10:43PM (1 child)
Try and not let the door hit you as you leave
Try and not lose
Try and you might win the English-should-be-spoken-my-way-as-the-only-correct-way award
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday October 05 2017, @10:48PM
TRY WHAT?!