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Drone Course Preps Operators For For-Profit Ventures

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Eugene-area operators of unmanned aerial systems – or “drones” – can now learn FAA regulations for commercial ventures.  KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.  

Lane Community College began the course in late June.  It’s more advanced than an earlier one offered last winter, which covered the basics of drone operations and terminology for hobbyists. 

Brandon Wynn is a flight instructor for Lane.  He says this course is for serious, business-minded people looking to make money with their drones.

“Sometimes realtors will use it to sell houses, you can get up all the way up to military applications, as well as work with multi-spectral cameras, look at agriculture, look at inspections with construction companies.," says Wynn.  "You name it, if you can take a picture of it you can pretty much do it with a drone.” 

Wynn says the goal is to make sure students learn all the necessary rules for safe and legal operations, so they can earn their commercial FAA license after they’re done with the course.  The FAA says its commercial rules could create more than 100,000 jobs over the next decade. 

Copyright 2017, KLCC. 

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
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