Menu
Drone class at Nevada High School
For the first time ever, there is a class on drones at Nevada High School; it is part of the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program.
“Actually, as far as we know, this is the first such class being offered on drones in any of the 800 plus AFJROTC programs in the world,” said program leader Master Sergeant (U.S.A.F., retired), U.S. Air Force, Pete Quinlan, getting a nod from Senior Aerospace Science Instructor and AFJROTC commander at NHS, Lieutenant Colonel David Coss (U.S.A.F., retired), U.S. Air Force.
Along with Quinlan and Coss, the Friday afternoon review of the class in the former band room and home to the AFJROTC program were four students, Corps Commander Lt. Col. Corey Klotz, senior; Cadet Major Shaun Gilliand, senior; Cadet Major Gage Rubin, Cadet Master Sergeant Zander Bough, junior.
Looking towards Quinlan, Coss explained “This class really began out of three things. First was the Master Sergeant’s interest in photography which more recently branched into aerial videography using his own personal drone.”
Bough explained the second inspiration came two years ago when during a unit on making and launching model rockets, he asked Quinlan if he could bring in his drone to record video of the launch and flight of the rockets.
Quinlan gave his enthusiastic approval which led the retired master sergeant to purchase a drone for himself.
“In order to do some commercial work with my drone I first had to get an FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] Small Unmanned Aircraft License, commonly known as a Part 107 license,” said Quinlan.
He was surprised to learn the 100 question, two-hour exam covered “just about everything you have to know to get a private pilot’s license except the section on controls for a plane but they use the same reference book.”
The retired master sergeant went to Coss for help since he had formerly been a navigator and was familiar with charts, air space and various things with which Quinlan was unfamiliar yet needed to learn.
“While Sarge was studying for his test we started having discussions on how could we reenergize, across the board, our junior ROTC program,” said Coss.
Coss and Quinlan wanted to generate more enthusiasm within the corps, increase numbers in the program and attract people who previously would not have shown interest.
Said Coss, “At one of our discussions we realized the answer was staring us in the face; we need to create a drone program.”
Cos and Quinlan approached R-5 administrators about creating such a class and were encouraged to proceed. Not wanting to reinvent the wheel, the pair contacted their regional AFJROTC commander about the availability of such a course and were surprised to learn none existed.
“But we’ve received a lot of encouragement and interest from our superiors and from colleagues with whom we’ve been in touch,” said Coss. “I think a lot of others are going to want Master Sergeant Quinlan’s slides and course materials.”
“Just as soon as I finish developing them all,” he said with a laugh.
Using materials from the FAA Part 107 Study Guide and pilot materials from the U.S. Air Force, Coss said the course covers just about everything Quinlan had to learn to obtain his license.
“Which is great for us,” said Gilliand.
To which Rubin added, “So if we want, with some study, we can then go out and get our commercial license too.”
As to what is covered, the retired master sergeant said this begins with a lot of what he termed “ground school” before there is any handling of the drones themselves. This begins with a tool which can be used on a computer or cellphone which allows students to select a series of commands which the drone then flies.
The more traditional units include air space limits, airports, reading the weather, flight safety, navigation, operational awareness and restrictions along with when and how to communicate with airport traffic control.
The course also covers real world application of drone technology. Examples from current Vernon County commercial use include real estate agents producing a video of a home and its site, crop/field evaluations and keeping track of livestock.
“This course accomplished just what we wanted; we went from 49 last year to 71 this year,” said Coss.
“And we can see the excitement level rise in those already a part of the program,” said Quinlan.
Said Cos, “Now let me make clear the success of our junior ROTC program far from hinges just on this drone class but it has boosted the STEM [science, technology, engineering, math] aspect of our program.”
To which Quinlan added that the drone class has generated interest by students who likely would not have been interested previously including more entering as juniors and seniors than in years past.
“And they’re getting involved in a lot of other activities and not just the drones,” added Coss.
A measure of the pride this has engendered in the program was noted in a comment made by Bough, who said “Every Wednesday we wear our uniform – our “blues” – and most of the people are wearing uniforms now so it’s increased a sense of pride in the program.”
On a rainy Friday, the six went into an empty gym and briefly demonstrated some drone skills. Normal operations are performed by a team of four including a pilot, co-pilot and two observers who watch the weather as well as other things going on in the area.
Back in their program’s room, Klotz and Bough spoke of how drones can be dangerous.
In 2016, during the time Quinlan was studying for his drone operator’s license, Klotz purchased a drone at a pre-Christmas sale. On the way home he told himself Quinlan was going to be proud of him.
Said Klotz, “I started this thing in our living room which has a seven foot ceiling and found out that my drone, like many of them, immediately jumps up to three feet and then I ran it right into the Christmas tree.”
“It’s possible for these drones to go up to 18 or 20,000 meters but we have locks on them so they only go up to 500 meters,” said Quinlan.
Bough pointed to a scar on his right eye-lid. He told of how nearby metal interfered with the drone’s global positioning system and so the vehicle suddenly came down and struck his right eye which started to bleed.
He said when it comes to drones he is definitely pro-safety and pro-education.
“They will break other things before they will break, even a windshield. That’s why I think everyone with a drone should take a class like this one,” said Bough.
Coss nodded his head and Quinlan added, “I couldn’t have said it any better myself.”