LETU to Launch new Aviation Degree

LONGVIEW — LeTourneau University School of Aviation and Aeronautical Science is launching a new degree program in the fall to train professional pilots to be leaders in the unmanned aircraft industry. The new program will enable pilots to fly, repair and program Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs) – also commonly known as drones or Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAVs). The new degree program will provide a Bachelor of Science in Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, with operations, maintenance and electronics concentrations. Projected growth for this industry is estimated in the billions of dollars over the next five years. Over 100,000 new jobs are expected be created in agriculture, search and rescue, aerial videography, border security, wildlife conservation, oil and gas pipeline inspection, and package delivery.

Specific examples include the following:
*First responders – search and rescue, accident investigation
*Aerial photography – make maps and photograph real estate properties
*Inspection – inspect antenna towers, bridges, construction sites, pipelines
*Agriculture – track growth of crops and apply seeds and fertilizers
*Research – collect samples of seawater, air, pollution, patrol wildlife areas
*Military – used for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)
*Film – TV shows, movies, Super Bowl commercials, X Games, Winter Olympics

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to date, has expressed concern over flight safety when drones are flown in the same air space as commercial and private planes. While FAA regulations continue to mature over time, the likely effect will increase the demand for certified pilots to fly the RPAs for commercial purposes. As both federal and state legislators thoughtfully consider the legalities of these new technologies, LETU is at the forefront of the conversation as the only program of its kind in East Texas.