Program Overview

Our Drone Operator Training course is designed to prepare students for the FAA Part 107 Exam, which leads to a commercial drone pilot license. There is an increasing need for Drone Pilots in many industries including: agriculture, real estate, retail, law enforcement, journalism, insurance, utilities, event filming, infrastructure monitoring, and photography, to name a few. This program will provide an overview of these emerging job opportunities for those with FAA Part 107 Certification.

During this course, students will be introduced to various types of drones (fixed and multirotor), sensors, payloads, drone photography, safe and legal pre-flight and flight procedures, regulatory requirements, and insurance. This 30-hour course covers both classroom and indoor flight instruction.

SUNY Niagara’s program has received the FAA Certification for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative.

Tuition Cost: $775 plus the cost of course materials

Start Date: April 20th, 2026
End Date: May 20th, 2026
Schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00-9:00pm

Materials Required

Textbook

2025–2026 Remote Pilot Test Prep: Paperback plus Software – Pass Your FAA Exam Study (ASA Test Prep Series)
Author: ASA Test Prep Board
FAA Publication: FAA-G-8082-22

2026 Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Study Guide (Drone Pilot Written Test Prep)

FREE option available (must print in color if you choose this option)
OR purchase option: Amazon (approximately $12.99)

Drone Suggestion

Cheerwing Syma X5C-1 Explorers 2.4GHz 4CH 6-Axis Gyro RC Quadcopter Drone with Camera
Amazon (approximately $50.00–$60.00)

Extra Batteries

5PCS 3.7V 720mAh LiPo Battery with 5-in-1 Charger
Compatible with: Syma X5C, X5C-1, X5A, X5, X5SC, X5SW, H5C, V931 Drone Accessories

Program Contact