LCCC offers drone classes starting in February

Lehigh Carbon Community College is offering two spring semester, two-credit courses in small unmanned aircraft systems, commonly referred to as drones.

With the commercial applications of drones increasingly expanding into businesses such as construction, law enforcement, agriculture, photography and videography, and engineering, drone-flying skills can be of value to many employers.

Both classes will be offered at the college’s main campus in Schnecksville and are open to the public. The instructor is John Fries, pilot, commercial drone operator and co-founder of Lehigh Valley Drones.

Students not interested in receiving a grade can take the course as an audit. In addition to the classroom instruction, five Saturday sessions for flying will be scheduled on the main campus according to weather and student schedules.

The following classes, daytime or evening, will be taught:

• 9 to 10:30 a.m. Fridays, Feb. 9 to May 4.

• 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 15 to May 3.

Commercial applications of drones require the pilot to have the Federal Aviation Administration Remote Pilot Certification, which requires pilots to pass a rigorous test on the rules of flying, safety procedures and aeronautical knowledge.

The LCCC course, ASA 297 — Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, will cover the knowledge required to successfully complete the test. The class also includes flying time.

It will also serve as elective credit in college degree programs and will be a requirement for drone applications classes, such as photography and videography, currently under development.

For more information, contact LCCC at 610-799-1575.