Scappoose High School students had the rare opportunity Tuesday morning, June 11, to climb to the dizzying heights of the air traffic control tower at Portland International Airport.
It was part of a busy week where students interested in piloting drones were finally awarded Federal Aviation Administration remote pilot certificates.
Culminating a year-long fire science program the Scappoose Fire District started this year, students at the high school received FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificates, which qualify the students to fly drones under the FAA’s Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems rules and operate commercially in the National Air Space. The program could help open doors to lucrative career opportunities across various industries, according to the school district.
At the PDX air traffic control tower, students witnessed F-15 jets as they maneuvered through the airspace and landed on the runway. They also toured the radar room, known as TRACON, where the numerous flights are tracked.
“It was incredible to get to see the reactions on the faces of the students as they walked through the air traffic control center at the Portland Airport,” Scappoose Fire Chief Jeff Pricher said in an email. “There was a time when tours of the facility were off limits, which, while there were probably reasons, being able to expose the students to what is happening in the National Air Space (NAS) elevates several career fields and pathways for the students.”
Certificates were issued to students who completed FAA knowledge tests as part of a dual credit class with Portland Community College that included seven college credits through PCC.
In one three-week period, the students piloted 349 drone flights, totaling to 31 hours of flight time. The Scappoose High students were also credentialed using the National Institute of Standards and Technology in robotics testing methods. NIST is one of the country’s oldest physical science laboratories and is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
“The students’ achievements in the Principles of Emergency Services and Emerging Technologies course are a testament to their hard work and the support of an incredible community,” a statement from the school district said. “As they bask in the rewards of their efforts, we celebrate their success and look forward to the bright futures they are undoubtedly prepared for.”
Throughout the year, the students were also exposed to multiple facets of public safety through guest speakers and hands-on experience. They focused on topics such Uncrewed Aerial Systems (drones), public governance, local and federal funding, emergency medical systems, incident command systems, wildland firefighting, structure fire fighting and fire investigation.
According to the Scappoose Fire District, the project was a collaborative effort between the fire district, Scappoose High School, PCC and the U.S. Department of Education. The project was established, in large part, by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley. The fire department gave thanks to the many individuals and organizations that made the program possible, which also included the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Portland Fire & Rescue — especially Arson K9 Kiki.
Pricher added that the dual credit program was a way for the Scappoose Fire District to give back to the community.
“The community does a lot to support the agency needs,” Pricher said. “While we are always prepared to respond, and provide the best service we can, we wanted the ability to give our students an edge that most schools have not been able to achieve.”
Most Popular
Comments / 0