These are the Drones You're Looking For

Oct. 9, 2015 - PRLog -- On October 10, at the 16th Annual Culpeper Air Fest, “The BEST Little Airshow in the East”,  Germanna Community College will declare the launch of course offerings focused on training for commercial drone use.

The concept for the courses started a few years ago, but really blossomed at the college’s STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) event featuring Germanna descendant Buzz Aldrin. Children from Madison Boys and Girls Clubs built and flew UAVs that helped them to think critically and have an engineering or design approach towards real-world problems while building on their math and science base.  The children were enthralled with the technology.  In that moment, Germanna Community College representatives recognized the need for commercial application courses to be taught to further advance the appropriate use of UAVs. The announcement to deliver courses to students has everyone buzzing including the 72^nd Governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe.

“I send my congratulations to Germanna Community College as they launch training courses on the use of unmanned crafts in commercial applications at the Culpeper Air Fest on October 10. I commend Germanna Community College for initiating both an introductory course and an intermediate course to train students on how to maintain unmanned aerial systems and how the actual programming works. This technology can make people’s lives better and will contribute to our efforts to build the new Virginia economy. Our young people must be prepared for the jobs of the future. If the Commonwealth is to be a leader in the unmanned systems industry, young Virginians must be trained in their use.  In the next ten years, these crafts will be used for the delivery of most commercial products. That is why I applaud Germanna Community College’s leadership in training young Virginians in this vital emerging technology,” said Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe.

The official announcement of the program will take place in the middle of the airshow with a demonstration flight of three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).  The flights will be filmed from the UAVs and transmitted to a live feed that will be available via Culpeper Air Fest’s social media feeds.

“I can’t wait to see the live feed video from the Culpeper Air Fest. I was delighted to learn that Germanna Community College is launching new course offerings on the use of drones in commercial applications.  I have long advocated the testing and development of unmanned aircraft systems technology.  Germanna Community College’s new introductory and intermediate courses to train students on how to maintain drones and how the actual programming works will be a huge boost for young people who want to be part of this emerging industry.  Germanna Community College is contributing greatly to Virginia’s leadership in this important technology,” said United States Senator Mark Warner.

Don’t miss your chance to see these drones in action at the 16^th Annual Culpeper Air Fest on October 10^th.

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About Culpeper Air Fest

The Culpeper Air Fest is produced by the Culpeper Airport Commission and funded by the Culpeper Air Fest Foundation - a 501c(3) non-profit charitable organization chartered to promote aviation education, awareness and support in Culpeper. It is our goal to help you celebrate with us a great aviation heritage and experience. The show is locally produced, free to the public and draws top performers from around the nation.  Learn more at www.CulpeperAirFest.com and follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) for the latest news and updates @ CulpeperAirFest #CulpeperAirFest.

About Germanna Community College

Germanna Community College is one of the twenty-three community colleges in Virginia that comprise the Virginia Community College System.  It is a two year public institution of higher education established in 1970. The College serves the residents of city of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, Culpeper, King George, Madison, Orange, Spotsylvania and Stafford.The College is governed by policies set by the State Board for Community Colleges with support and advice from the Germanna Community College Board. Primary funding for the College is provided by the state, supplemented by contributions from seven counties and one city and by student tuition.

   Germanna Community College is one of the twenty-three community colleges in Virginia that comprise the Virginia Community College System.  It is a two year public institution of higher education established in 1970. The College serves the residents of city of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, Culpeper, King George, Madison, Orange, Spotsylvania and Stafford.The College is governed by policies set by the State Board for Community Colleges with support and advice from the Germanna Community College Board. Primary funding for the College is provided by the state, supplemented by contributions from seven counties and one city and by student tuition.