Spring registration is now open at Hawaii Community College for the first drone certification program in the state’s community college system.
Hawaii CC is breaking new ground with the program, backed by a $650,000 National Science Foundation grant.
The drone certificate curriculum emphasizes practical applications of drone technology across various industries, including agriculture, civil defense and environmental conservation.
Debuting with a test cohort in fall 2023, the program quickly gained traction, equipping students with a comprehensive introduction to drone operations, including preparation for the FAA Part 107 certification required to become a licensed commercial drone pilot, and combining classroom learning with hands-on lab experiences.
Students practiced flying both racing drones and advanced commercial models. So by fall 2024, the introductory lecture and lab ENGT 107 under Engineering Technology (formerly known as Architecture, Engineering and Construction Technology), reached capacity almost immediately.
“Students are fascinated by how drones revolutionize traditional methods of observation,” Paul Agamata, program administrator and ENGT 107 instructor, said in a press release. “Tasks that once took days on foot, such as surveying 50-acre fields, can now be accomplished in just 30 minutes with drones. The accuracy is astounding — down to 2 centimeters or better.”
ENGT 107 is a prerequisite to the remaining three courses needed to complete the certificate. Students can now register for the spring 2025 session of ENGT 107, held every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
According to the press release, graduates of the program will be prepared for careers in a variety of fields, including construction surveying, public safety, environmental management, agriculture, and media production.
The program also emphasizes data analysis. “Learning to fly is the easy part,” Agamata said. “The challenge lies in collecting and interpreting data — skills we teach so students can use drones effectively in their industries.”
The program also has attracted interest from community partners such as Hawaii County Civil Defense, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Land and Natural Resources. These partnerships provide students with opportunities to apply their skills in real-world scenarios, from disaster response to agroforestry management.
“Having knowledgeable, licensed drone pilots who can help make observations and collect data during emergency situations lessens the human risk,” said Talmadge Magno, Civil Defense administrator. “This technology gives us many advantages.”
Hawaii CC also is integrating drone technology into other academic programs, such as TEAM (Tropical Forest Ecosystem and Agroforestry Management), and Engineering Technology.
TEAM student MJ Crandall, the first licensed female drone pilot to graduate from the program, and one of the members of the test cohort in 2023, highlighted the benefits: “In the TEAM program, we rely heavily on data collection and analysis in the conservation and management of natural resources. Using unmanned aircraft systems is the future. It’s the easiest and quickest way to gather the data we need to drive our projects.”
Visit hawaii.hawaii.edu to enroll in ENGT 107 and take the first step toward becoming a certified drone pilot. For more information, contact Agamata at (808) 934-2686.