The next time you visit Appomattox County High School, listen closely, and you might hear the buzzing sound of drones flying in the hallways and around campus. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drone) course at ACHS has officially launched for students. For many, drone technology is used for entertainment and recreation. Over the last several years, recreational drones for kids and adults alike have increased in capability and availability. Many students at ACHS signed up for the drone course because of their interest in the recreational use of drones. Junior Damonye Bradshaw shared why he decided to register for the course, “I’ve always liked drones and want to get better with them. I’ve flown a lot of drones, and they would often crash or fly into a tree. I want to improve, and I aspire to fly high-quality drones.”
Kelsey Hamby, the ACHS drone teacher, hopes that her students will learn to enjoy the recreational aspect of drones, but more importantly, understand how they can use drones in their future careers. Currently, students are actively learning the FAA laws and regulations for drone operations in the United States. They are exploring careers that currently utilize drones and considering how future companies might employ drone technology to enhance their business operations. Hamby explained how drones can be used for various purposes, including lighting the night sky with light shows (instead of fireworks) which creates a less stressful event for pets and people sensitive to noise, and assisting in emergency management. Electrical companies are using drone technology to locate damage to power systems, land surveyors are utilizing drone technology to map challenging terrains, and real estate agents are employing drones to capture images of land and properties for marketing and sales. The possibilities are endless.
Junior Noah Will plans to enlist in the Army after high school and emphasized the importance of drone technology for military use. He stated, “Jobs that used to take days to complete can now be done in hours, and in many situations, using a drone is less risky to human life.” After completing the course, students will be eligible to sit for the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Noah Will hopes that this pilot license will enable him to become a drone pilot in the military. Students don’t merely sit and learn; they are actively flying drones, navigating obstacles, learning about the components of drones, repairing them when they break, troubleshooting technological issues, and taking photos and videos with the drones. The unmanned aircraft course is a new addition to the curriculum offered by the Career and Technical department at the Virginia Department of Education. Hamby proudly stated, “Appomattox County is one of the first schools to offer this course to students.”
The Unmanned Aircraft class is just one way students get to learn about drones. Students can also join a newly formed drone club at ACHS. This spring, the drone team will participate in the Sea, Air, and Land challenge, a competition that simulates missions encountered by the military, first responders, and national security agencies. Students will be tasked with building a drone for the air challenge. Team captain Nicholas Will said, “I’m excited to see what type of drone we will build.” The drone team will also take part in a virtual competition where they will devise the most effective path for emergency management in a potential nuclear situation. Hamby has even invited the First Responders Club to participate in the competition.
Damonye, Noah, and Nicholas all expressed their enjoyment of the class and their aspirations to utilize drone technology in their future careers. Senior Tevin Kelso summed it up, saying, “Who wouldn’t want to fly drones in school? It’s a lot of fun to be able to fly.”
So, the next time you're around, look toward the sky; you might just spot a drone being operated by the future drone pilots of the world.
Noah Will explains to Nick Gunter how to perform a flip maneuver with a drone while Ms. Hamby watches.
Students in the unmanned pilot course took to the sky at a recent football game to practice the art of using a drone to capture images at events.
Drone instructor, Kelsey Hamby teaches a lesson on the basics of drone flight.