Professional Development for Teachers: Become a Certified Drone Instructor
Learn to become a professional drone instructor.Three Options for Teacher Professional Development
Our programs are specifically designed to meet CTE standards and emphasize preparing students for careers in drone technology.
| In-Person Open Enrollment | 4 Day Teacher Intro to Drones Workshop | In-Person Private Training | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosted at Your Ideal Location | |||
| Customize the Curriculum to Your Needs | |||
| Curriculum Designed for Teachers | |||
| Collaborate with Other Teachers | |||
| Fly Drones Hands-On | |||
| Part 107 Test Prep Training | |||
| Work with a DARTdrones Instructor In-Person | |||
| Teacher Onboarding | |||
| Access to Experts for Questions | |||
| Access to Full Online 107 Course | |||
| Access to Monthly Q&A Webinar with Chief Pilot |
Trusted by Top Organizations Across the Nation
Teachers come to DARTdrones for professional development because of our proven track record of turning someone new to drones into a confident, competent drone pilot.
SET YOUR DRONE CLASS UP TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
Excel as a drone instructor by learning from a DARTdrones Instructor. With thousands of hours of classroom drone instruction experience, DARTdrones instructors are the best of the best, manned aviation pilots who teach teams at the nation’s largest drone programs and fly drones in the field every day.
View Available Locations & DatesYou will gain access to
Comprehensive Curriculum
An Expert Instructor
Hands-On Flight Time
A Network of Other Teachers
Teacher Best Practices
Supporting Online Materials
Upcoming In-Person Classes
Teacher Professional Development Curriculum
- Pilot In Command
- Registration Requirements
- Eligibility Requirements
- Conditions for Safe Operations
- Waiver Policy
- National Airspace System
- Air Traffic Control
- Clearances and Permissions
- Uncontrolled Airspace
- Controlled Airspace
- Restricted Areas
- Filing NOTAMs
- Special Use Airspace
- Military Training Routes
- VFR versus IFR Flight Rules
- Reading Sectional Charts
- Chart Legend
- Navigation Basics
- Chart Interpretation
- Difficult Chart Test Questions
- Operating Near an Airport
- Traffic Patterns
- Heliports
- Towered and Non-Towered Airports
- Runway Markings and Signage
- Controlled Tower Communication Procedures
- Phonetic Alphabet
- Airport Terminal Information Service
- Self-Announce Procedures
- UNICOM/ MULTICOM
- Internet Weather Briefings
- Micrometeorology
- Reading METARS
- Stages of a Thunderstorm
- Types of Cloud Formations
- Scheduled Maintenance
- Unscheduled Maintenance
- Preflight Inspection
- Record Keeping
- FAA Inspection and Testing
- Requirements of Pilot In Command
- Situational Awareness
- Hazardous Attitudes
- Effective Communication
- Risk Management for Drone Pilots
- Basic Aerodynamics
- Aircraft Loading
- Weight and Balance
- Stability and Control
- Center of Gravity
- Reporting In-Flight Emergencies
- Fail Safe Procedures
- Airborne Inspections
- Wildlife Hazards
- Lithium Battery Hazards
- Impacts of Drugs and Alcohol
- Vision Impairment
- Determining Fitness for Flight
- Physiological Considerations
- Part 107 Regulations Requirements
- Registering for Airman Knowledge Test
- 300+ FAA Test Questions
- Best Study Practices
- Applying on IACRA
- Applying for the Remote Pilot Certificate
- Primary drone types
- DJI overview Phantom / Inspire / Mavic specs
- Standard DJI systems
- Power system
- Propulsion & maneuvering system
- Command & control system
- Positioning & navigation system
- Imaging payload
- Downloading the app
- Connecting your device
- Performing firmware updates
- System status / flight mode
- GPS / link quality / battery level
- Camera settings
- Map / flight telemetry data
- Verifying system settings & status
- Performing a compass calibration
- Startup & takeoff
- In-Flight stick commands
- Landing & shutdown
- Flight logging
- Multiple flight modes
- Beginner mode
- Return to home altitude
- Maximum flight altitude
- Loss of control link
- Fly away
- Disorientation
- Low battery
- Course lock
- Home lock
- Point of interest
- Follow me
- Waypoints
- Active track
- Tap fly
- Gesture
- Tripod
- Terrain follow
- Year at a Glance Review
- Lesson Plan Review
- Careers in Drones
- Steps to Becoming a Service Provider
- Leading Indoor Flight Exercises
- Leading Outdoor Flight Demos
- How to See Student Scores
Meet some of our instructors throughout the country
Chris Grazioso
Operations Lead for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division’s Drone Team Learn More Chris Grazioso
Mark Kurzinski
Retired Naval Officer turned Drone Business Owner and Instructor Learn More Mark Kurzinski
FAQs
If you can get 6 – 10 teachers together in your district or area for a private training, the private training is most ideal option. Our instructor comes to your location on a date that works best for your group.
The second best option is to attend a 4 Day Teacher Workshop. The content of this Workshop is customized for teachers. You’ll learn with other teachers who also plan to teach the DARTdrones Intro to Drones course to students. You’ll have to make one of our available dates and locations work for you.
The DARTdrones Open Enrollment Training is a great option to learn about drones, but the course is not customized to teachers. In the classes, there will be business people and people from government entities learning to use drones. This course is offered in 20+ cities and may be the most convenient option.
Because teachers will most likely be training students on Part 107 Test Prep materials, we highly recommend the teacher earn their own FAA Part 107 license. For a teacher to fly a drone outdoors with their class, the teacher needs a Part 107 license in most cases. An adult that is new to aviation could commit 15 – 20 hours of study time and be ready to pass their exam. After taking our Part 107 Test Prep course, you can book at one of the FAA’s 690 testing centers across the country to take your exam for $175. Once you pass the exam, you get your certificate within a few weeks and are able to fly commercially.
This Workshop is designed for teachers who aim to use drones to teach their students and is designed for someone new to drones and the FAA Part 107 content.
We want you to learn as much as you can in our class, which is why we limit each class to 10 students.
