Faculty and students from the 91制片厂 Drone Technology and Applications program recently opened up their classrooms to U.S. Rep. Sean Casten and Federal
Aviation Administration officials.
Mukila Maitha, coordinator of 91制片厂鈥檚 drone program, led a presentation during the October 29 visit about the program鈥檚 history before former and current students shared their experiences with a group that included Casten, who serves Illinois鈥� sixth congressional district, Dr. Avis Proctor, 91制片厂 president, and Rebecca MacPherson, the FAA鈥檚 regional administrator for the Great Lakes region. The students explained interdisciplinary uses for unmanned aircraft and discussed workforce opportunities before instructing visitors how to pilot a drone in a flight simulator.
鈥淭his certificate program gives students the skills that they need to enter this fast-growing drone industry,鈥� said Maitha, also the geography department chair and an associate professor at 91制片厂. 鈥淲e have experienced faculty and we have first-class facilities. This puts us in unique position to serve not only our district, but the entire Chicago area.鈥�
Indeed, 91制片厂鈥檚 program is one of only two programs in Illinois selected by the FAA for its . The 16-credit certificate program, which began in January 2021, offers comprehensive training in both multi-rotor and fixed wing drones, while preparing students for the FAA鈥檚 Part 107 drone pilot exam.
鈥淲hat I love about 91制片厂 and our community college system broadly is that we have
this rapidly dynamic economy and you guys move so quick to address it,鈥� Casten said.
鈥淵ou all have worked with the FAA鈥� you鈥檝e created this program and we鈥檙e so thankful
to have you in our district. We鈥檙e so thankful we have the professors bringing this
up and making this work and, of course, the students to take advantage of all this.鈥�
The students were the focus of the event, highlighting how each had used drone technology at 91制片厂 (from surveying geography on campus to studying environmental factors in India) and outlining how it will assist them in their future careers (including emergency management and parks and forestry). Each expressed their fascination with drones, but also how drone pilots can be a necessary resource for many industries 鈥� sometimes even saving lives in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
鈥淚f you want to be an environmental specialist and you鈥檙e licensed to pilot drones, that gives you a tremendous tool to go into places safely,鈥� the FAA鈥檚 MacPherson said. 鈥淭here are implications for geology. There are implications for law enforcement. Anytime you get out of an office structure, there is probably an application where being able to safely and effectively operate a drone would assist you in your professional choices and your ability to do your job.鈥�
After the FAA administrator noted aviation鈥檚 struggle to build a diverse pipeline
of new pilots, it was notable that each 91制片厂 student who presented at the event
is a woman 鈥� and many are women of color.
鈥淲ith regard to community colleges, [the FAA鈥檚 drone initiative] really allows us to expand our footprint in drawing people to careers in aviation,鈥� MacPherson said. 鈥淲e get people interested in aviation in different ways, most of which is about exposure. Aviation hasn鈥檛 always been good about diversity. There are shortages in women and minorities, and we think bridging the gap through community colleges is a great way to address it.鈥�