In an effort to better understand first-hand various programs his college is involved with, Dr. Will Austin, President of Warren County Community College in Washington Township, New Jersey, brings new meaning to one rolling up his sleeves and getting to the bottom of it.  

Four years ago, he went through a week of military training at Paris Island as a way to relate to service men and women and veterans taking courses at WCCC. Not a fan of remedial education’s outcomes, he pushed for his college to be one of the first in the nation to essentially eliminate the requirements. In another example, in reaction to the escalating opioid and drug epidemic, he and the trustees heralded a new associates program in counselling.  

So it was no surprise when Dr. Austin three years ago went full steam ahead in leading the college’s new drone (unmanned Systems) degree program. He studied the ins and outs of drones, presently and its future job opportunities. The College quickly gained a reputation of being a leader in New Jersey for its top-notch drone program. One of the program’s instructors? Dr. Will Austin, of course. 

Dr. Austin has not stopped there. He continues to educate himself on drones and its technology. In July, he successfully tested for the AUVSI TOP, Level 3, which will be great not just for him, but more importantly for WCCC students in the long run.

During the weekend of July 20-21, he traveled to Embry-Riddle in Daytona Beach (where he is enrolled in their Master of Science degree in Unmanned Systems) and took the AUVSI (Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International) Trusted Operator Program test (TOP). 

“It was an intensive two days of training and testing,” noted Dr. Austin. “It really expanded my knowledge of drones, from the standpoint of technicalities, flight and safety.”

Currently, to fly a commercial drone in the US, a remote pilot is only required to demonstrate knowledge on a FAA knowledge test. There are no skills or abilities-based tests required. The FAA knowledge test does not examine the remote pilot’s ability to safely fly an aircraft. The highly regarded Trusted Operator Program (TOP) requires knowledge in many core areas, such as aeronautical knowledge, risk management, and crew resource management as well as skills and abilities demonstrated via a Practical Flight Assessment (PFA). The PFA is a performance assessment to determine if the remote pilot seeking TOP certification has the skills and proficiency required to safety fly the aircraft.

“By going through this program, Dr. Austin has demonstrated his knowledge, skills, and abilities to the highest level of the TOP program, TOP Level 3, which is indicative of the most complex UAS operations,” noted Joe Cerrata of Emby-Riddle, who administered the test along with Professor Mark Scharf. 

While there are many programs out there, there has been disparity in the levels of remote pilot “quality” due to the lack of uniform Training Standards delivered from UAS Training Providers. Verification in pilot competency, and organizational capacity and commitment for formal safety frameworks, offers end users assurance of safety, competence, and reliability; this is the heart of the TOP value proposition.

“The Trusted Operator Program (TOP) fills the gap between minimally prescriptive operating regulations and the need for a uniform level of knowledge, flight proficiency, training, safety and risk management practices. Filling this gap is vital to support employers and customers of commercial UAS operators,” pointed out Jenny Rancourt, Certification Manager for AUVSI. “It’s important that drone pilots – especially those who want to operate them commercially – are trained to the highest standards and are fully aware of all the legal requirements that come with operating a drone, including the serious implications they could face if they breach the Air Navigation Order.”

Rancourt added, “TOP certification offers benefits to individual UAS operators such as Dr. Austin and will allow him to demonstrate his professionalism, reliability, competence and commitment to safety. Educational organizations looking to stand up UAS operations or integrating with existing operations benefit by hiring TOP certified remote pilots and training existing employees to enhance their organization.  Additionally, in the absence of regulated flight assessment requirements, TOP levels 2 and 3 provide the platform by which Dr. Austin demonstrates his competency and proficiency by way of a proctored flight assessment.” 

In a way, the Florida program is quite the collaborative effort between three entities – WCCC, Emby-Riddle and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. 

The Top program and requirements are administered by Tracy Lamb at AUVSI. She has been working with the community college lobbying efforts of Tom Downs with the FAA and advancing AUVSI TOP among the community colleges as also being beneficial to the safety of the national airspace and the professionalism of UAS industry.

“The objective is no longer just to educate; the objective is to inspire a safety culture, support and encourage future professional remote pilots and technicians and to empower parents and adults to be mentors of the younger generation and each other in this vision,” said Rancourt.  “This means involving community partners such as CBOs. Considering the vast demographic who purchase drones for recreational purposes is so vast (some are children), the answer to that is simple, – make the education and test FUN, make it FAST to complete, and make it simple and meaningful so it ‘STICKS’ and encourage flyers to learn more and to be engaged.”

“This cooperation is a great example of educational and industry based institutions working together to advance knowledge and to make skies safer,” said Dr. Austin. 

With Dr. Austin’s new designation and a visit by ERAU faculty to WCCC in the coming months and beyond, it will allow WCCC the ability to offer TOP certifications to its own students. 

“WCCC’s leadership has recognized the need for industry-leading applications-based education in UAS,” said Cerreta. “Rapidly changing industries require an entry level workforce with the certifiable knowledge, skills, and abilities to be successful. Students benefit from the TOP program as they earn an independent third party certification that will validate their knowledge, skills, abilities, and professionalism to prospective employers.”

“Absolutely great for our students!” said Dr. Austin. 

For more information about WCCC’s drone program, visit warren.edu.