Course Level Curricula

Competency Areas

Learning Activities

Commercial Publishers

• • • Gliem Aviation

      • Online or printed test preparation

    • ASA Remote Pilot

      • Online or printed test preparation

      • Popular and effective Apple or Android App

    • Kingschools

      • Test prep and integrated video lectures

Faculty Professional Development

• • • Sinclair Community College National UAS Training and Certification Center (online)

    • Freelance instructional designers short-term low-cost Online courses

    • Drone U

      • Online course subscription based

    • Drone Life

      • Drone news and current events

      • Regular email newsletter

    • Drone Deploy learning resources

      • Drone Deploy is a drone image processing tool that also has a robust library of white-papers and archived webinars

• • University of Minnesota Morris tutorial using the New Google Sites

  • Wix

  • Google Sites

Remote sensing using sUAS

• • Drone Deploy

  • Pix4D free online courses

GIS Activities

• • Esri Workbooks

  • QGIS Tutorials

  • Sample Fundamentals of GIS Syllabi

Graphics

Presentations for preparing students for licensing

Trusted Operator Program

There is much happening in the transportation world with the emerging use of UAS for structures. However, beyond demonstrations to collect information (inspection, condition, etc), there still appears to be a knowledge gap on how to collect data and operate safely. Furthermore, the requirements to obtain a remote pilots license and comply with Part 107 are well established (well over 100,000 FAA licensed operators) but the linkage between UAS and existing structure management systems is not well understood or defined. There are existing UAS licensing requirements, advanced UAS flight training, inspection classes, bridge inspection courses, remote sensing programs, etc. However are they independently or in some combination appropriate to adopt to ‘certify’ UAS operators for transportation infrastructure inspection?

The AUVSI Trusted Operator Program(TOP) fills the gap between these minimally prescriptive operating regulations and a higher level of demonstrated knowledge, flight proficiency, safety and risk management practices that is expected to be valued by employers and customers of commercial UAS operators.

Earning the AUVSI TOP Certification can set a student's career apart from others in the remote pilot industry.

T.O.P. certification complements current regulatory compliance by adding elements of:

• Safety Culture

• Codes of Conduct

• Best Practices

• Automation Awareness

• Airmanship

• Risk Management

• Human Performance

• Non-Technical Skills

Description of Certifications

T.O.P. Certification Level 1

• Routine operations in accordance with FAR Part 107

• Operations that do not require a waiver of FAR Part 107

• Operations in which the remote pilot is competent and proficient

• Flights using electric aircraft less than 5 lbs or 2 kg

• Operations that do not have any of the characteristics mentioned in Level 2 or 3 such as operations close to airports, helipads, populated areas, people and livestock

T.O.P. Certification Level 2

• Any operation that requires a waiver under FAR Part 107

• Operations that require a visual observer, or sensor operator

• Operations with elevated risk factors or complexity including but not limited to operations close to airports, helipads, populated areas, people and livestock

• Operations that do not have any of the characteristics mentioned in Level 3

T.O.P. Certification Level 3

Any of the characteristics of Level 2, plus the following:

• Operations in safety-critical and complex areas that require higher levels of risk mitigation

  • Industrial and chemical facilities, including offshore oil rigs, mine sites, power plants

  • Infrastructure, including wind turbines, power lines, communications towers, rail and pipelines.

• Operations in any hazardous or extreme environments including:

  • From ships, moving vehicles, aircraft, confined areas and underground

  • Within close proximity to and within severe weather (storm research)

  • Remote, harsh or hostile locations, including wildlife considerations

• Operations requiring the development and testing of new procedures

• Operations with UAS over 55 pounds (25 kilograms)

Functional Area Certification

Organizations and individuals who achieve TOP Level 2 and 3 certifications in these areas have demonstrated specific areas of knowledge, system performance, risk-management and competencies related to these industries.

• Agriculture

• Environmental Services

• Infrastructure and Utility Inspections

• Petroleum, Oil and Gas Inspections

• Public Safety

In order for an organization to be certified by AUVSI the organization must: hold TOP Level 3 certification; employ at least 2 TOP-L3 Remote Pilots or 1 TOP-L3 Remote Pilot Instructor and 1 TOP-L3 Remote Pilot; and be certified as a TOP Functional Area Training Provider. (Please note recently AUVSI has announced an accelerated certification process for community colleges-only requiring a organizational level 2 certification)

Practical Flight Assessment

TOP Level 2-3 requires a practical flight assessment. One of the major desired outcomes of TOP certification is to certify the TOPL-2-3 remote pilot can safely perform flight maneuvers consistent with non-autonomous sUAS data collection.

The assessment must align to ASTM F3266 - 18 Standard Guide for Training for Remote Pilot in Command of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Endorsement. The National Institute for Standards and Technology has developed an instrument for assessing small-unmanned aircraft and a remote pilot’s manual dexterity to manipulate flight controls, maintain stable aircraft control, and perform basic flight maneuvers.

The easiest method for developing a practical assessment is to adapt the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Standard Test Methods for Aerial Systems