Aviation Drone Class to be held in Murfreesboro

Aug 24, 2016 at 06:18 am by bryan


Murfreesboro Aviation has announced they will be holding a test preparation class for those who will be taking the FAA Part 107 written exam required to become an FAA licensed commercial drone/UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) operator. Officially the FAA refers to these rules as the "Small UAS Rule (14 CFR Part 107). This class will be held on Saturday September 24, 2016 at the Murfreesboro Airport, and is the second drone test prep class offered by Murfreesboro Aviation. The first class will be held on August 27th, but has already sold out.

U.S. Officials estimate that over one million consumer drones were sold during the holiday season in 2015. That number is expected to be substantially higher this year. With the prospect of millions of "drones" being purchased and flown each year, the FAA stepped in and recently issued newly-created Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR's) overseeing the registration and operation of UAS vehicles and their pilots. The new FAA regulations take effect on Monday August 29, 2016, which is also the first day the written test is being offered. Murfreesboro Aviation is an FAA approved testing facility and the cost of the test is included in the class tuition of $395.

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The FAA UAS Test Prep Classes being held by Murfreesboro Aviation are for those individuals who currently operate or are planning to operate drones for commercial purposes, such as land surveying, compensated real estate photography, movie filming and commercial photography, and utility surveying, etc. If you own a drone and simply fly for fun, you may still be required to register your drone with the FAA, or risk penalties and perhaps increased liability in the event of an accident involving your drone.

According to Marty Newcomb, an ATP-Rated pilot and flight instructor who is teaching the class; "If you fly a drone for fun, you don't necessarily need to take the test prep class, but a few of the enrolled students are individuals who fly strictly for recreation but want to be safe, responsible, and well informed." He added; "everyone agrees that flying drones is fun, but it is important to remember that this is serious business and the possibility of harm to people and property is inherent in the activity". It is of course, for this reason that the FAA's involvement became immediately necessary.

Jim Gardner, the owner of Murfreesboro Aviation commented; "As the busiest privately-owned flight school in the state of Tennessee we have a responsibility to the community to be in front of aviation trends. By educating and testing future commercial operators of drones, our goal is to continue to demonstrate our leadership in keeping the skies over Tennessee safe for everyone, both in the air and on the ground."

Murfreesboro Aviation is the busiest privately-owned flight school in the state of Tennessee and owned by Jim Gardner. In the past 4 years Murfreesboro Aviation has grown from strictly a flight school to a maintenance and repair center, Cessna Authorized Service Center, Avionics repair and installation facility, aircraft brokerage and acquisition services company, and FAA certificated part 135 charter operator.

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