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Drone Education: Creating Pathways to Industry

Pitsco Education, USI partner to drive pipeline to drone workforce readiness.

Panama City, FL, November 14, 2024 — USI (the Unmanned Safety Institute), a pioneering force in the commercial drone industry, and Pitsco Education, a leader in innovative education solutions since 1971, are excited to announce a strategic partnership aimed at bridging the gap between education and the workforce. This collaboration's unique continuum prepares students, from elementary to high school and beyond, for dynamic career opportunities after graduation via in-school engagement and certifications.

Pitsco's expertise in preK-12 education brings drone hardware and standards-aligned, hands-on activities to the table, making the learning experience accessible even to children as young as eight years old. Meanwhile, USI's background in commercial drone training, offering FAA Part 107 certification preparation as well as maintenance, safety, and flight training, leading to USI's highly desired industry recognized credentials, enables this partnership to truly take flight. Together, they form a pathway that leads students to industry -- establishing a pipeline from elementary school all the way to adult professional development and advancement.

Through hands-on instruction and real-world experience, students will gain valuable insight into the commercial applications of drones, from technician roles, trainers, and professionals in aerial photography, surveying, agriculture, infrastructure inspection, and many more.

"We are thrilled to partner with USI to offer students an unprecedented opportunity to explore careers in the drone industry," said Matt Frankenbery, Pitsco Education CEO. "This program is about more than just technical skills; it's about giving students a head start in their drone careers and introducing them to the many options out there."

The USI program offered through Pitsco is available for educators and students in high school and beyond. They'll be able to earn certifications in drone operation and safety, recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Students and educators alike will get "stick time," that is, log actual flight hours while studying for certification, providing them with real-world experience and a competitive edge as future job applicants.

"Drones are transforming industries around the world, and we are committed to helping the next generation of professionals enter this exciting field," USI President and CEO, Josh Olds, stated. "By working with Pitsco, we're creating a pathway for students to pursue meaningful careers right out of high school, equipped with the skills and certifications they need to succeed."

USI and Pitsco's partnership represents a forward-thinking approach to education and workforce development, aligning academic programs with industry demands and providing students with tangible career opportunities. As the drone industry continues to expand, this initiative will play a crucial role in shaping the workforce of tomorrow.

Highlights/Multimedia:

 - Learn more about Pitsco Education, LLC: Pitsco.com
 - Learn more about USI: FlyUSI.org
 - Shop drones: Pitsco.com/Drones
 

About Pitsco Education

As a leading provider of K-12 core science, CTE, and hands-on STEM curriculum, Pitsco Education empowers students to develop career-ready skills essential for the future. Their solutions incorporate real-world applications and industry-standard tools, bridging academic learning with practical career pathways. Through their diverse range of products, interactive activities, standards-aligned curriculum, and scalable resources, Pitsco creates engaging and meaningful learning experiences that enhance student involvement and promote lasting academic success.

 

About USI

Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) is the industry’s most widely recognized leader in flight safety solutions for individuals, academia and organizations focused on integrating and operating UAS for civil or commercial purposes. USI provides UAS flight safety training and certification to operational standards based on the adoption and modification of time-honored aviation safety practices. 

With more than 300 instructors and over 20,000 USI Certifications awarded around the world, USI works with large commercial enterprises and nearly 500 schools in all 50 states. USI is the global leader in commercial and academic UAS training and certification, delivering the most highly regarded training program of its kind. USI offers Primary, Advanced and Complex training and certification programs that are applicable to VLOS, BVLOS and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations.

USI’s training and certification programs are endorsed by major aviation insurance providers and implemented nationwide as a workforce pathway program from secondary or post-secondary to the career field to align skill sets to industry pay scales.

Discover more at www.FlyUSI.org. 

 

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USI Job Opportunity: Maintenance Manager & Instructor

 

USI is looking to hire a Maintenance Manager / Instructor based in Panama City, FL.

 

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USI Job Opportunity: Project Manager / Flight Instructor

 

USI is looking to hire a Project Manager / Flight Instructor based within an hour of PHX.

 

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USI Job Opportunity: Compliance Specialist

USI is looking to hire a Compliance Specialist / Flight Instructor based in Panama City, FL.

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A Letter From Our Founders

Last month, we reached a significant milestone for USI! Our company was founded 10 years ago. Since that time, we have provided more than 150,000 hours of training for 1,000+ organizations. With our decade of experience, our commitment to true workforce readiness and the highest standards for safety and professionalism, combined with the deep academic and commercial partnerships we’ve forged, USI stands out as the leader in best practices for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).

And we’re just getting started! The FAA has projected the demand for commercial remote pilots in the U.S. to grow from approximately 280,000 in 2023 to over 450,000 by 2034. USI is uniquely positioned to continue preparing students for the highest-skilled, highest-paying positions within this growing industry.

For us, 10 years does not simply represent a date on the calendar. We are celebrating this milestone with the launch of USI products to the consumer marketplace, with a special, limited time subscription offer of just $10/month for new individual learners seeking to earn their FAA Part 107 certification.

As we work to further propel our mission of workforce standardization within emerging technology, we invite you to join the celebration by sharing your experience with us. We would love to hear from you and thank you for your support and partnership.

USI’s industry leadership is not possible without YOU. Together, we’ve provided a decade’s worth of education, safety and leadership to this rapidly growing industry, and we look forward to what the next 10 years will bring.

With gratitude,

 

Josh Olds                                         Alex Mirot

CEO and Co-Founder                 Vice President and Co-Founder

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USI Launches Industry Standard Drone Training to Individual Consumers

Global leader in UAS safety training extends workforce ready curriculum to individuals,
leveraging 10 years of experience with academic and enterprise organizations.

Panama City, FL, July 24, 2024 — USI announced today that their industry-standard training for drones, also known as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) is now available to the consumer market. USI training can be accessed online, at a time and pace determined by each student, and includes both live virtual instruction as well as in-person, live flight training options. Course offerings include FAA Part 107 test prep, Primary Professional Remote Operator (PRO®) certification, and new courses for those who wish to become an instructor.

USI’s curriculum has been offered to the academic and enterprise markets for the past 10 years and is now directly available to individual consumers based on the projected massive demand for drone pilots and required crew members. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Aerospace Forecast projects that the number of registered commercial drones will increase from around 385,000 in 2023 to over 835,000 by 2034. Additionally, the FAA expects the demand for commercial drone pilots to grow from approximately 280,000 in 2023 to over 450,000 by 2034.

Professionally trained operators are being hired into jobs that pay salaries of $60,000 or more per year on average. Employers consider FAA Part 107 as a baseline for entry-level positions while reserving the technically-advanced, higher-wage positions for pilots with advanced certifications. The USI certification pathways enable students to progress to the highest standards of professional remote operator certifications for true workforce readiness.

USI Co-founder and CEO, Josh Olds, stated, “Since our founding, we’ve provided the academic and enterprise markets with content that meets or exceeds the highest industry standards for safety and professionalism, with the goal of empowering and enabling regional workforce development that will support industry growth. Now individual users can attain these standards and be workforce ready for high-skill, high-wage positions in the real estate, photography, utility and agriculture industries, to name just a few.”

To coincide with the company’s 10-year anniversary, USI is offering discounted pricing across their products, including a limited time subscription offer of just $10 per month for FAA Part 107 coursework and exam prep.

More details are available at FlyUSI.org

About USI

Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) is the industry’s most widely recognized leader in flight safety solutions for individuals, academia and organizations focused on integrating and operating UAS for civil or commercial purposes. USI provides UAS flight safety training and certification to operational standards based on the adoption and modification of time-honored aviation safety practices. 

With more than 300 instructors and over 20,000 USI Certifications awarded around the world, USI works with large commercial enterprises and nearly 500 schools in all 50 states. USI is the global leader in commercial and academic UAS training and certification, delivering the most highly regarded training program of its kind. USI offers Primary, Advanced and Complex training and certification programs that are applicable to VLOS, BVLOS and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations.

USI’s training and certification programs are endorsed by major aviation insurance providers and implemented nationwide as a workforce pathway program from secondary or post-secondary to the career field to align skill sets to industry pay scales.

Discover more at www.FlyUSI.org. 

 

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USI Job Opportunity: Project Lead / Flight Instructor

 

USI is looking to hire a Project Lead / Flight Instructor based in Panama City, Florida.

 

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USI and Accelerate Montana Forge Partnership to Advance Workforce Development and Drone Safety Standards in Montana

Adopting aviation best practices, education, and training from USI gives Accelerate MT
the opportunity to equip individuals and organizations throughout the state of Montana
with industry-recognized safety certifications for UAS workforce readiness.

July 9, 2024 – Panama City, FL — Accelerate MT has been assembling teams to support their mission of economic and career development across the state of Montana. Their Rapid Training Program is designed to help individuals get the skills they need to build jobs or careers in Montana's fastest-growing and largest industry sectors of construction, manufacturing, technology, healthcare, film and media – all of which, are actively integrating drone technology for improved efficiencies. These rapid training courses are offered across the state and are designed to be fast, flexible, affordable, and precisely what workers and companies need. 

To further propel their mission, Accelerate MT has selected USI and its drone safety standards, training, and industry-recognized certification programs, as a workforce development partner. Derived from aviation best practices, USI’s professional training programs result in a standardized approach to safe, effective, and efficient operations in both Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations. These professional training programs will be offered as part of the Rapid Training Program as soon as this month.

“Partnering with agencies such as USI is a key component of Accelerate Montana and is essential in attaining our goal of delivering quality training programs in high demand careers,” stated Shane Kravik, Accelerate MT Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator. “Helping Montana employers and individuals work towards rewarding careers and generate economic prosperity for their families and communities is our goal; offering this leading UAS training program will help develop a fiercely competitive and uniquely Montanan economic opportunity.” 

“Through this partnership with Accelerate MT and USI, we can ensure that there is standardized professional UAS training and accreditation at the high school and college level in MT.” Jeremy Crowley, the Director of the University of Montana (UM) Autonomous Aerial Systems Office (AASO) explains. “A particular difficulty in MT is the low population density, and this hybrid method of training will help extend the knowledge and experience that is already in the large cities to the rural and tribal areas of the state. This will help employers and innovators hire the employees they already need, help create new jobs, and expand the workforce capacity and sustainability in Montana.”

USI Co-Founder and CEO, Josh Olds added, “USI is proud to empower the safe adoption of drone technology throughout the state of Montana as Accelerate MT implements our education, training, and safety standardized certifications into their Rapid Training Program. It will be very exciting to see how this partnership creates value to the numerous industry career clusters actively growing their use of drone technology throughout Montana.” 

Multiple Accelerate MT pilots have completed the Primary Certification pathway training with USI at the Autonomous Aerial Systems Office (AASO) at University of Montana in Missoula, MT.


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About Accelerate MT

Accelerate MT offers a broad range of programs to benefit businesses and individuals alike - regardless of location in Montana. To meet the mission of accelerating economic potential, Accelerate MT works to assemble teams who can support, guide, and consult individuals and businesses to find success in their careers.
 
Through the broad range of programs offered, Accelerate MT strives to help build business capacity and support Montana's economic development. Members of the team are experts at guiding entrepreneurs through the start-up of a business: from launch phase to its early stages as a young company. Their network of peers allows them to help regardless of where those entrepreneurs live in the state. 

Accelerate MT has a range of programs designed to support Montana's small businesses in addition to programs that can enable businesses small or large to access new markets overseas or ensure that their company is considered for state or federal contracting. They have team members that can connect businesses to the basic advice, tools, and skills that every business needs to function.  

The courses that are part of the Rapid Training Program are designed to help individuals get the skills they need to build jobs or careers in Montana's fastest growing and largest industry sectors of construction, manufacturing, technology, healthcare, film, and media. These courses are designed to help build the skills that industries most say they need. Courses are offered across the state through partners and are designed to be fast, flexible, affordable, and precisely what workers and companies need.

Learn more at www.AccelerateMT.com.

Accelerate MT Contact: Shane Kravik, Shane.Kravik@MSO.UMT.edu


About AASO 

The University of Montana (UM) Autonomous Aerial Systems Office (AASO) provides advanced UAS research support for UM and federal, state, and local agencies and communities. AASO was one of the earliest groups in Montana to be awarded a series of Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) Certificate of Authorizations (COAs) to conduct advanced operations. These COAs include authorization to conduct UAS operations up to 10,000ft above ground level (AGL), nighttime flights, and daisy-chain operations.  

Learn more at https://www.umt.edu/autonomous-aerial-systems/

AASO contact: Jeremy Crowley, Jeremy.Crowley@umt.edu


About USI
Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) is the industry’s most widely recognized leader in flight safety solutions for individuals, academia and organizations focused on integrating and operating UAS for civil or commercial purposes. USI provides UAS flight safety training and certification to operational standards based on the adoption and modification of time-honored aviation safety practices. 

With more than 300 instructors and over 20,000 USI Certifications awarded around the world, USI works with large commercial enterprises and nearly 500 schools in all 50 states. USI is the global leader in commercial and academic UAS workforce development and certification, delivering the most highly regarded training program of its kind. USI offers Primary, Advanced and Complex training and certification programs that are applicable to VLOS, BVLOS and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations.

USI’s training and certification programs are endorsed by major aviation insurance providers and implemented nationwide as a workforce pathway program from secondary or post-secondary to the career field to align skillsets to industry pay scales.

Discover more at www.FlyUSI.org.

USI Contact: Stephanie Holland, Stephanie.Holland@FlyUSI.org 

 

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