Northwest College moves forward on 9-credit drone program

POWELL (WNE) — Northwest College faculty have put together a nine-credit program for students to learn about unmanned aircraft usage in the wake of receiving a nearly half million dollar grant to form the program. 

This is the first program of its kind amongst the state’s community colleges. 

Vice President for Student Services Dave Erickson said the college will be able to put the program in place in time for fall 2026. 

This fall the college announced it had received a $475,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, which would allow the college to put together a new program to teach students how to use unmanned aircrafts, commonly known as drones, although Erickson said this program will prepare students for all types of unmanned aircraft, whether dual rotor craft, single rotor or fixed wing aircraft. 

Students will learn the basics of flight, including the responsibilities and ethics of drone ownership, as well as the technical and programming needs for flight management systems, weather planning, GPS, and more. 

The knowledge and skills acquired through the RPAS Technician Certification will allow students to pursue multiple career pathways in an emerging field that encompasses industries as diverse as agriculture, anthropology, business, criminal justice, and the physical sciences, which could include opportunities unique to the Greater Yellowstone region.