College of Lake County offers Private Pilot Ground School course
The impact of drones: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), will be a featured component of the College of Lake County's Private Pilot Ground School course offered this fall.
A free information session on the course will be offered at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10 in Room T334 at the Grayslake campus, 19351 W. Washington St. Registration for the info session is available at www.clcinfosessions.eventbrite.com.
The course, being offered through CLC's Workforce and Professional Development Institute, has a new instructor and an updated curriculum.
UAVs are an important new component of the course. "UAVs are currently defining the future of aviation," said Skip Goss, course instructor. "The application of drone technology will be revolutionary for many industries including agriculture, public safety and surveillance, fighting wildfires and soon enough, human transport." Goss is an aviation industry professional with more than two decades of experience in training pilots of all backgrounds and skill levels.
The non-credit course, which costs $499, will meet from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Sept. 24 to Dec. 17. For more information, visit www.clcillinois.edu/programs-and-classes/training-for-professionals-and-businesses/cpd/career-training/aviation.
The Federal Aviation Administration, the governing body of the national airspace system, estimates that as many as 7,500 commercial unmanned aerial vehicles could be legally flying in national airspace within a few years.
"In the future, the FAA will likely require commercial UAV operators to have some aviation experience, and at least a private pilot certificate," Goss said. "Right now, any civilian flying drones without a special permit is doing so illegally, and could face heavy fines. Operating UAVs without any aviation knowledge poses serious safety and security threats, creating a dangerous traffic situation in the sky."
Private Pilot Ground School prepares students for the FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Test, the first step toward pilot certification, through the study of flight navigation, safety, emergency procedures, meteorology, runway and airspace logistics and FAA regulations.
For more information, contact Continuing Professional Development at professionalworkshops@clcillinois.edu, (847) 543-2615 or www.clcillinois.edu/professional.
The Workforce and Professional Development Institute of the College of Lake County provides training, consulting and cutting-edge courses for businesses, professionals and the community through its five areas: Center for Personal Enrichment, Client Solutions, Continuing Professional Development, Illinois Small Business Development and International Trade Center and Judicial Services.