Aviation and Aerial Vehicle (Drone)

The college's Office of Workforce Development offers Aviation and Aerial Vehicle (Drone) courses for those preparing for a new job, promotion or looking to update their skills.

How to Register

  • Register online by selecting "Add to Cart" on the desired course(s) and select "Cart" at the bottom of the page when you are ready to process your registration.
    • The “Seats Left” information is updated every half hour and when you checkout.
  • Other registration options are available.

Course Offerings

Drone Hands-On Flight Training

This 8-hour course’s unique training methodology uses model quadcopters flying indoors. By flying indoors, you do not need to contend with wind or other weather conditions, and it allows you to focus solely on controlling the aircraft. The course will bring you through a series of increasingly difficult exercises and have you flying through an obstacle course by the end of the training.

This approach develops three primary proficiencies:

•     Identifying flight system orientation

•     Accounting for issues related to depth perception

•     Flying without dependency on GPS

These are the essential skills needed to create the safest, most proficient remote pilots anywhere and these basic skills are easily transferred into more advanced drone flight systems. This course creates safe, capable pilots who can confidently fly the aircraft when there is a situational requirement for manual flight control. 

Prerequisites: Students must be at least 13 years old
 

Location: Hudson Valley Community College main campus
 

Textbook: None

NOTE: The course time includes a 30 minute break for lunch (meals not provided)

Drone Hands-On Flight Training
Schedule Section Seats Left Cost Register
Friday, 3/10
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
ZTTN-160 600 0 seats left $250Section Full

Call to be added to wait list

Drone Photo & Video Production Online

Do you want to shoot and edit aerial imagery for commercial purposes? This course will teach you best practices for capturing video and still imagery with a drone and introduce you to post-flight image processing using Adobe software. You will learn the steps from image capture to image delivery, including:

At the completion of the course instruction, you will be able to create your own video utilizing stock footage provided by the instructor.

Tuition: $995
Note: Students need to have access to the current versions of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro to work on class activities.

Delivery of Course:

Online
18 hours, 1.8 CEUs, Non-Credit

Drone Photo & Video Production Online
Schedule Section Seats Left Cost Register
Monday, Wednesday, Fridays, 8/9 - 8/16
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
ZTTN-200 700 16 seats left $995

Drone Remote Pilot FAA Test Prep Online

Keep up with changing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements to remain ahead of the curve among commercial drone pilots. Anyone operating a drone for commercial or business purpose must obtain an FAA remote pilot certification. This highly-focused course prepares you for the test to receive this certification.

Beyond drone-specific material, students in this course will gain an understanding of much of the ground-school information covered in the FAA’s knowledge test. Topics include regulations relating to small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS); airspace classification, interpretation of sectional navigation charts, operating requirements, and flight restrictions; aviation weather sources and effects; small unmanned aircraft loading and performance; emergency procedures; aeronautical decision-making and crew resource management; radio communication procedures; physiological effects of drugs and alcohol; airport operations; and maintenance and preflight inspection procedures.

The remote pilot knowledge test Unmanned Aircraft – General includes 60 questions and requires a passing score of 70 percent. The test costs $150, paid separately to the Knowledge Testing Center. With successful completion of the test, you can apply for a remote pilot certificate for FAA Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 107.

Students new to drone piloting should precede this course with the comprehensive Drone Pilot Training – Hands-On Introduction Course, which provides the skills and information you need to start piloting drones safely and legally.

Prerequisites: Students must be at least 16 years old, be able to read, speak, write and understand English (exceptions may be made if the person is unable to meet one of these requirements for a medical reason, such as hearing impairment).

Location: Online Instruction 

Tuition: $395
NOTE: Actual FAA testing must be administered at an authorized Knowledge Testing Center and is NOT included in the course fee.

Drone Remote Pilot FAA Test Prep Online
Schedule Section Seats Left Cost Register
Wednesday, Thursdays, 4/12 - 4/13
10:30 am - 3:15 pm
ZTTN-161 602 4 seats left $395Call for more information
Wednesday, Thursdays, 6/21 - 6/22
10:30 am - 3:15 pm
ZTTN-161 700 8 seats left $0
Wednesday, Thursdays, 7/26 - 7/27
10:30 am - 3:15 pm
ZTTN-161 701 10 seats left $395
Wednesday, Thursdays, 8/16 - 8/17
10:30 am - 3:15 pm
ZTTN-161 702 10 seats left $395

Drones - Intro for Commercial Users

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS), otherwise known as drones, are a dynamic, emerging technology that will literally transform how industries function. This eight-hour course is a comprehensive overview of the information your organization needs to start using drones safely and legally. The course will cover the types of flight systems available, their capabilities and how to pick the one that would be best for your organization. We discuss how drones can be used in specific business applications, and how to apply drone technology to bring efficiencies to your business.

Topics covered in the course include multi-rotor and fixed-wing drone flight systems, maintenance, registration, certification requirements, safety, insurance, industry applications, featured systems (DJI, Yuneec, etc.), emerging technologies and the latest FAA policies.

Students interested in pursuing an FAA remote pilot certification should follow this course with the Drone Pilot Training – Hands-On Introduction Course and Drone Remote Pilot FAA Test Prep courses. These courses prepare operators to successfully pass the FAA certification test and bolster their piloting skills using our unique indoor flight training methodology.

Tuition: $395
Tuition includes all course materials.

Delivery of Course:

Online
8 hours, 0.8 CEUs, Non-Credit

Drones - Intro for Commercial Users
Schedule Section Seats Left Cost Register
Wednesday, Thursdays, 5/10 - 5/11
10:30 am - 3:15 pm
ZTTN-175 603 10 seats left $395
Wednesday, Thursdays, 6/14 - 6/15
10:30 am - 3:15 pm
ZTTN-175 700 10 seats left $395
Thursday, Fridays, 7/20 - 7/21
10:30 am - 3:15 pm
ZTTN-175 701 10 seats left $395
Thursday, Fridays, 8/10 - 8/11
10:30 am - 3:15 pm
ZTTN-175 702 10 seats left $395

Get in Touch

Workforce Development
Fitzgibbons Health Technologies Center, Room 334
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Summer 2023 Hours (May 22 - July 28): Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Friday, Closed
(excluding college holidays and vacations)