Michigan High School Trains Future Drone Pilots

As commercial drone use expands across industries, Ypsilanti Community High School and Lincoln High School is preparing students to enter the workforce as certified drone pilots and future aviation entrepreneurs, as reported by WEMU.

Through a year long Career and Technical Education pathway, students receive hands on instruction in unmanned aircraft systems, mission planning, and aviation fundamentals.

The program allows students to earn the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification, which is required to operate drones commercially in the United States. According to Ypsilanti Community High School principal Dr. Chelsea Harris Hugan, the curriculum is designed to align with workforce growth already happening in the region.

Many businesses are actively exploring drone applications, and the program introduces students to both current and emerging opportunities in aviation and technology.

Beyond flying drones

The training goes beyond flight skills. Drone operations are paired with a business course that teaches high school students how to build drone based service companies. Students learn how to apply math, mapping, engineering, and scientific concepts to real world aviation missions while gaining experience with different drone platforms.

The program also prepares students for industry partnerships and future work based learning placements, giving them exposure to how drones are used outside the classroom. Instruction emphasizes safety, airspace awareness, and regulatory compliance alongside practical flight time.

Students fly drones regularly as part of the course, learning how precision, planning, and situational awareness all factor into safe operations.

Preparing students for aviation careers

Michael Cushman, the program’s lead instructor, brings experience from both education and aviation. He emphasizes that professional aviation careers extend far beyond airline cockpits.

Only a small percentage of aviation professionals are pilots. Many roles require certifications rather than full degrees, and drone operations are one of the fastest growing entry points into the industry.

Students receive extensive flight time, practice different mission types, and learn how drones are applied across fields such as inspection, logistics, mapping, and media production. Cushman says he has already seen students with no prior experience demonstrate advanced control and adaptability.

Building skills that last

Students say the program opens doors both technically and personally. Seventeen year old Wendell Turner says earning a drone license can be a gateway into aviation careers and creative industries alike.

He says the class demands precision and discipline, but once students understand the fundamentals, flying becomes intuitive. Turner, who enjoys videography and photography, sees drones as a way to combine technology with storytelling and future career opportunities.

Other students note that the program helps them develop teamwork, communication, and confidence, skills that apply far beyond aviation. Working together to diagnose issues, plan missions, and solve problems mirrors real world professional environments.

DroneXL’s Take

Programs like this show how drones are quietly reshaping career education. By introducing FAA certification, business fundamentals, and hands on flight experience at the high school level, Ypsilanti Community High School and Lincoln High School are treating drones not as gadgets, but as tools for long term workforce development.

As industries from logistics to media continue adopting UAS technology, early exposure like this could give students a serious head start in aviation and beyond.

Photo credit: ABJ Drone Academy