Distinctly Montana Magazine

d i s t i n c t ly m o n ta n a • fa l l 2 0 1 4 64 WIll thE uaS CourSE EVolVE to a SEParatE dEgrEE Program? My colleagues at Rocky were very pleased with the enthusiasm shown by the students in the inaugural course. Several stu- dents have already asked for subsequent UAS courses, including advanced labs. This is a very exciting time and place in aviation, and I anticipate more UAS course offerings, but it is currently too early to know if it will become a separate degree program. More likely, it will become a subset of our Aviation Management program for the near future. What arE SomE of thE CourSE offErIngS you mIght EnVI- SIon for a uaS CurrICulum? Rocky's aviation program has always maintained tight links with the FAA and the aviation industry. Rocky's aviation profes- sors have an excellent network of friends in the industry. We use their feedback to help tailor our curriculum to fit their current and future needs. With that in mind, I envi- sion a three-tiered UAS curriculum with basic, in- termediate, and advanced training. hoW many dEgrEE ProgramS for uaS arE thErE natIonWIdE? Less than a dozen, based upon my most recent search. However, that number is sure to grow. For prospective students, the key factor is accreditation. Rocky's aviation program has successfully passed the rigorous standards of FAA certification. Furthermore, Rocky is accredited by the Aviation Ac- creditation Board International. Finally, as an integral part of Rocky Mountain College, the program is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. What arE thE JoB and Salary oPPortunItIES for SomEonE SChoolEd In uaS? The short answer is "hot." I have read various estimates, which range from starting salaries of $75,000 for payload operators to more than $100,000 for UAS pilots. tEll uS aBout SomE of thE uSES you SEE for uaS tEChnology In thE nExt 5-10 yEarS? That's a very distant horizon for the UAS industry. When that time arrives, my predictions will probably seem antiquated. However, I do believe there are some broad areas of foresee- able technical development. Obviously, surveillance remains a huge UAS use for both law enforcement and the military. Any weapon or sensor currently being carried aboard a manned aircraft could be carried aboard a UAS. The UAS have advantages of longer loiter times, smaller radar profiles, flexible payloads, and stealth. RMC students Joseph Mutchler (l.) and Ryan Rojeski (r.) and Wilson show some of the program's UAS drones. Retired United States Air Force and commercial pilot Greg Frank shares his flight knowledge with the class. Watch a drone flight over Fort Missoula. Go to: www.distinctlymontana.com/drone144 DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL

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