Learn to fly a drone and work to earn your Commercial Drone Pilot License with the Tuskegee Airmen Chicago “DODO” Chapter! Work with licensed drone pilots, commercial pilots, former law enforcement officers and teachers who make up the Tuskegee Airmen Youth Drone Training Academy. Everyone involved is also a member of the “DODO” Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen. We all have the same objective—to help as many young people as we can and to make sure that cost is no barrier for a child who wants to be a drone pilot.
Drone Program for Youths: Preparing for Jobs of the Future
The good news for high school students with an entrepreneurial spirit is that you only have to be 16 to take the exam to get your commercial drone pilots license. While it takes classroom training to prepare for the FAA Pat 107 exam and to learn safety and rules of flying, video game playing is great preparation for being a drone pilot.
As drones are one of the up and coming focuses in the field of aviation, the Tuskegee Airmen Youth Drone Training Academy has developed a program to address this need. It’s one way to give students a marketable set of skills they can take with them after they graduate from high school and beyond.
Tuskegee Airmen Youth Drone Training Academy in 2023
In 2023 the local Tuskegee Airmen chapter received donations for 16 youths to train, take the test and get their commercial drone pilots license. Students are recruited through selected local High Schools.
The training program includes 10 hours of coursework and 2 hours of hands-on training with a drone, along with assistance to become certified as a drone pilot including preparation to take the exam.
Qualifications for the sponsorship program include:
- Youth must be between the ages of 16 to 18.
- Must be willing to arrange time for coursework.
- Must provide time and attendance for coursework and hands-on training.
- Must commit to two days of attendance. The Youth Drone Training Academy meets the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, starting in June, 2023.
- Must be willing to take the FAA Part 107 Drone Certification Exam.
Program Location
Bult Field Airport 28261 S. Kedzie Ave. Monee, IL 60449
Registration and acceptance into the program is required in advance.
Download and complete the application here.
Applications can be emailed to Ken Rapier at skyking332nd@aol.com, or mail a completed form to:
P.O. Box 19063 Chicago, Illinois 60619-0063
Parent/Student must provide own transportation.