Creating a Campus Drone Policy: How GADA Helps Educational Institutions Navigate Regulation Gaps
As drone technology revolutionizes industries across the board, educational institutions are considering applying drones in their education program, research, aerial photography, surveys, or even for inspection in their facilities. However, since drones are still a new technology in most regions, the lack of a uniform and robust regulatory framework for drone usage has led to most institutions developing their own framework. That's where GADA comes in. Read on to find out how GADA guides education institutions in forming policies that ensure safe and responsible drone usage on campus.
Navigating the Regulatory Landscape
The FAA sets general regulations for the whole country, but states, cities, or municipalities can develop more specific laws that apply to their region. When educational institutions want to establish a drone program in their school, they must adhere to both federal and local laws. Having introduced drone programs in several states in the USA and other countries worldwide, GADA understands the intricacies of drone regulation, and we can help educational institutions develop policies and frameworks that adhere to local and FAA laws.
Eliminating Risks and Ensuring Safety
Before establishing a drone program, educational institutions must acknowledge the risks of operating drones. These could range from privacy concerns to damage to property or injuries due to crashes. GADA is at the forefront of advocating safe drone usage, evident in our programs. As such, we have a wealth of knowledge in drone safety protocols and can help institutions formulate policies that can help mitigate such risks. This could include helping institutions create a safe place for students to fly, establishing no-fly zones within the campus or its environs, and ensuring drone usage is always supervised.
Facilitating Commercial Drone Use
Sometimes campuses may need to hire drones for aerial photography, mapping, inspection, or other activities involving drones. GADA can help streamline the process of hiring drone companies by guiding them on what the drone company needs to have, the regulations they need to adhere to, and on issues like indemnity and liability to ensure both the drone operator and the institution are protected.
Facilitating Recreational Drone Use
Besides commercial drone usage within the campus, the students themselves may want to engage in recreational drone use. GADA can help develop policies that will allow students to fly drones recreationally within and outside the campus. This includes the regulations they must know, such as ensuring they study and get the TRUST Certificate on the FAA Drone Zone.
Empowering Educational Drone Programs
Besides using drones commercially and recreationally, GADA acknowledges that drones can inspire students to tap into their creativity, innovation, and critical thinking. That's why we have several STEM programs based on drones, including the JDP (Junior Drone Pilot) program. There's also the Drone Soccer program, where students learn to build, program, and repair drones, as they enjoy the thrill of soccer.
We can also tailor drone-based educational programs depending on the student's needs. These programs help students gain hands-on skills in programming, flying drones, and problem-solving. This inspires them to pursue careers in aviation or computer science and helps improve their overall performance in other studies.
Conclusion
As drone technology advances, educational institutions may need to incorporate them in different ways. But to do this, they need a working policy framework to navigate the local and federal regulatory framework. By helping educational institutions develop policies, emphasizing safety, facilitating commercial and recreational drone usage, and empowering educational drone programs, GADA can help educational institutions incorporate a good campus drone policy. Please visit www.gadacademy.org, Book a Call, or Send us an email today via info@gadacademy.org. We are eager to connect with you.