SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College and Public Safety UAS Institute will present the Public Safety UAS Remote Pilot Prep Course Sept. 17-21 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at the Emergency Services Training Center, 3000 Airport Road, Sanford.

This class prepares public safety personnel to begin the process of starting a UAS (unmanned aircraft system)/drone program in their agency, as well as to sit for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 Remote Pilot exam and the NCDOT UAS Operator Permit test -- both of which are required for a public safety UAS program in North Carolina.

The class will consist of five days of study for a total of 40 hours.

• The first three eight-hour days will be in the classroom.
• Day four will be eight hours of hands-on basic flight training.
• Day five will continue with hands-on training and flying in simulated real-life scenarios.

All hands-on training will be done flying aircraft similar to what they may actually use in the field.

Tuition may be waived for volunteer, municipal, county, or state agency. There is a $50 material fee per student payable on the first day of class. For those who are not an active public safety employee / volunteer, the course will be $125 plus the $50 material fee. Please make material fee checks payable to Public Safety UAS Institute.

To register or for more information, people can contact Hampton Williams, CCCC Fire & Rescue Training Coordinator, at 919-777-7778 or by email at hwill568@cccc.edu.