BY KARISSA MILLER
Civil Air Patrol Capt. David Leach provided a history lesson and shared some information about careers involving drones during a recent visit to Troutman Middle School.
“The first recorded usage of drones was in 1849 by the Austrians when they launched pilotless incendiary balloons carrying bombs to attack Venice,” Leach told students in teacher Tom Weyrauch’s class on Monday.
In 1862, he said, drones were used for military reconnaissance during the American Civil War.
Leach gave a brief history of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including those capable of operating without human input.
He asked students if they knew of any traditional careers that used drones.
A few students raised their hands and said things like, “military,” “police,” and “real estate.”
Many applications are still emerging, but Leach told the students they would have opportunities to work as drone pilots, inspectors, surveyors and work in aerial photography and videography. He also mentioned ancillary UAV careers, including software developer, mechanical engineer, RF engineer and data scientist.
To pursue these careers, students can start by learning to fly. They can start right by becoming recreational flyers and then advance to taking a test for their drone pilot license with the Federal Aviation Administration.
You can become a drone pilot at age 16, he said, by passing the FAA’s knowledge test and meeting eligibility requirements.
A career in data science requires a solid foundation in math and problem solving.
Principal Jerrica Scott, who sat in on the class, said Leach’s knowledge gives their students real-world perspectives on careers.
“This is one of the things that is really great is having a guest speaker that is in the field, they experience it and care share what they do. I also believe if you see it, you can be it,” Scott said.
Weyrauch agreed.
“I wanted students to see and learn about careers available outside of your traditional ones like accounting and lawyer. He gave them a different perspective, but also they get to ask questions and see it,” the teacher said.