Part-Time Drone Pilot Instructor
About The Position
The Drone Pilot Instructor will lead a hands-on, career-focused drone education program for high school students. The instructor will teach knowledge, safety practices, flight skills, and professional skills to help students pursue an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107. Instruction combines classroom learning with practical drone activities and explores applications in industries including construction, forestry, agriculture, public safety, real estate, environmental science, photography, surveying, and other emerging careers. The program prepares students for the FAA Part 107 certification process but does not guarantee certification. Students must meet FAA eligibility requirements and complete the required process. The position is part-time, scheduled for 10–12 hours per week for 36 weeks per year, or an estimated 360–432 hours annually. Some outdoor instruction may require schedule flexibility based on weather, daylight, and safe flying conditions.
Requirements
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
- Demonstrated experience safely operating drones or unmanned aircraft systems.
- Ability to work effectively with high school students.
- Strong communication and classroom-management skills.
- Ability to explain technical information in an age-appropriate way.
- Commitment to aviation and student safety.
Nice To Haves
- Experience teaching, coaching, mentoring, or training youth.
- Experience with drone photography, mapping, surveying, GIS, inspection, forestry, construction, or another UAS application.
- Experience preparing students for FAA Part 107 testing.
- Knowledge of FAA airspace and LAANC procedures.
- Experience developing hands-on STEM or career-and-technical education activities.
Responsibilities
- Introduce students to drones, unmanned aircraft systems, and aviation, including drone components, controls, batteries, maintenance, and pre-flight procedures.
- Teach safe and responsible drone operations, weather, airspace, flight restrictions, and emergency procedures.
- Develop instruction and practice activities covering FAA Part 107 knowledge areas, including regulations, airspace, weather, aircraft performance and loading, emergency procedures, crew resource management, radio communications, airport operations, maintenance and pre-flight inspections, night operations, and aeronautical decision-making.
- Demonstrate safe drone flight techniques and supervise student flight activities.
- Teach takeoff, landing, hovering, maneuvering, and mission planning, and provide opportunities to practice photography, mapping, inspection, and other appropriate applications.
- Establish and enforce safe flight procedures for student activities.
- Help students understand workplace uses of drone technology and explore related career applications.
- Develop students' professional communication, teamwork, problem-solving, time management, project planning, workplace safety, professionalism, résumé development, career exploration, and presentation skills.
- Track student progress toward the FAA knowledge examination and explain the certification process, including obtaining an FAA Tracking Number, scheduling and passing the test, completing the FAA application through IACRA, and completing required security vetting and application steps.
- Provide classroom instruction, hands-on flight sessions, student project development, individual student support, FAA exam preparation, career exploration activities, and program planning and documentation.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Education Level
No Education Listed
