Embry-Riddle to offer Unmanned Safety Institute Certification in Florida via State Education Program

Daytona Beach, Florida- Today, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach announced that it will begin offering the Unmanned Safety Institute’s (USI) Small Unmanned Safety certification training to high school students and teachers throughout the state of Florida interested in careers in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS aka “drones”) operations. The offering is part of Florida’s Career and Professional Education (CAPE) Act that was established to improve the state’s talent pipeline by providing students with cutting-edge training and earned industry certifications that develop skillsets required for high-skill and high-wage jobs in a range of industries.

“Embry-Riddle is excited about partnering with USI to share the importance of UAS safety with our students and instructors,” said Colleen Conklin, Associate Professor and Director of Embry-Riddle’s Gaetz Aerospace Institute. “As this emerging industry moves at warp speed, we must not forget the importance of safety operations when handling and operating unmanned aircraft systems.”

Under the program, Embry-Riddle professors will be trained to provide USI instruction and small UAS safety certification – a certificate that has been endorsed and approved for CAPE funding by Career Source Florida in partnership Florida’s Department of Education – starting this summer.

“We are grateful for partners like USI and CareerSource of Flagler-Volusia County along with Flagler Palm Coast High School, all working together to have the first safety industry certification in unmanned aerial vehicles adopted and available by the Florida Department of Education,” Conklin said.

While the FAA continues to develop the federal regulations governing commercial UAS operations in the national airspace systems, USI’s program is the first and only commercial UAS certification recognized in the aviation insurance industry.