There may be a long list of rules for operating drones that weigh less than 55 pounds, but becoming a commercial drone operator, or pilot, is now quite straightforward. You must be at least 16 years of age, and you are required to pass a 50 question multiple choice exam administered by an FAA approved testing center, but provided you meet both requirements, you’ll be awarded your FAA Part 107 commercial Drone License and can legally begin to fly for as a registered commercial drone pilot.
How many industries are drones being used in nowadays?
Having been originally used for warfare purposes, drones are now being used in more and more industries, such as real estate, film-making, advertising, mapping and online retail, with huge companies like Amazon and Google testing ways to deliver packages using drones.
Some cities are planning to restrict the use of commercial drones, but even so, many thousands of openings for drone operators are projected to enter the job market by 2025, and the global market for commercial applications of drone technology is set to reach $127 million by 2020.
How and where can you train to become a drone pilot?
Drone pilot training programs are appearing at universities and institutes the country over, to try and match the demand for jobs. In Phoenix, a university is devoted solely to training drone pilots, and offers graduate degrees in unmanned systems engineering, along with manual training courses to become a drone pilot.
Once you’ve earned a certificate, must you go on to meet other FAA requirements?
Before being able to fly a drone commercially, you’ll need a drone pilot license, or FAA 107. Many training programs and universities can help you prepare for taking this test.
Are many people opting to train as drone pilots?
Yep, they sure are! People of all ages and from all walks of life are choosing to become drone pilots, irrespective of whether they have any prior experience or not. With research showing how drones are set to revolutionize many industries, getting involved now could become lucrative for the future.
Drones are very much here to stay, and whether you approve of them or not, they are responsible for creating many new career opportunities, and the need for qualified drone pilots, continues to grow.
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