July 28, 2022
The sky’s the limit when it comes to drone piloting, and Humble ISD is equipping students with the skills they need to capitalize in this field that is growing in demand.
New this school year, a program of study focused on drone piloting is being launched at multiple secondary campuses to prepare students to obtain their license.
“The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or UAV program runs for four years and is available to students interested in learning about drone piloting,” Joe Paneitz, drone piloting teacher at Atascocita High School, said. “Once students complete the program, they are professionally certified.”
The program consists of classroom instruction that teaches students not only about equipment and how to fly a drone, but also laws that govern airspace and how it pertains to drones. They also receive hands-on instruction for piloting a drone.
“The drone program is open to students attending Atascocita, Humble, Kingwood, Kingwood Park, and Summer Creek high schools. It is taught by Mr. Paneitz at Atascocita High School,” Larkin Le Sueur, Humble ISD Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE), said. “Students from other campuses will be transported to Atascocita High School for the class.”
Drone pilots are in high demand. Paneitz believes this is the future of the construction industry. “Students develop skills for 3-D mapping, which is in high demand from construction firms looking at land,” Paneitz said. Drones are also used underwater. Companies use underwater drones to inspect swimming pools and fountains for chips and cracks. Underwater drones take pictures or record video to make it easier to pinpoint and repair problems before becoming worse.
Autumn Ridge Middle School and West Lake Middle School will also offer a drone piloting class. “This is a great opportunity to tap into a new labor market workforce that will continue to grow in years to come,” Dr. Dee Bazile, Humble ISD CTE Coordinator, said. “Drones, like computers and the internet, will have a major impact on society.”