2024 KTU Session 3

March 16, 2024

Learning to Fly- How You Can Become a Drone Pilot

An Interactive Session led by Ms. Sarah Rhodes

A/P Faculty at the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science, Virginia Tech

Sarah Rhodes leads a wide array of research and educational activities as manager of the Virginia Tech Drone Park. Ms. Rhodes has a B.S. in Conservation Biology from George Mason University, and a Master’s of Natural Resources from Virginia Tech. Prior to coming to Virginia Tech, she worked for the Smithsonian Institution conducting research on novel means of ecological monitoring, which led her to begin her work with drones. Over four years of managing the Drone Park, she has been dedicated to helping students and the community access the tools and information needed to further their education in autonomous systems.

As drone technology advances, it is quickly becoming more prevalent in everyday life. Drones are delivering packages, collecting news footage, surveying construction sites, and introducing people to the world of aviation in ways that weren’t possible a few years ago. So, what does it take to become a drone pilot? We’ll talk to a panel of experts working on the leading edge of drone technology to find out how they started working with drones and where they think drones are headed. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask these experts your own questions, and in the afternoon will fly a drone hands-on at the VT Drone Park!