UAS Training
Colorado Department of Public Safety UAS Pilot Certification
Are you interested in a standardized approach to public safety Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) training? Does your organization have personnel with their Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 remote pilot certificate, but still need a little more training to get off the ground? The Colorado Department of Public Safety (CDPS) UAS Pilot Certification can help you ascend to new heights!
This course is designed to provide UAS pilots from public safety agencies with the necessary tools to execute UAS missions safely and effectively. The CDPS UAS Pilot Certificate was established for CDPS personnel, but it has the potential to benefit all public safety UAS practitioners, so CDPS is offering it to partner public safety agencies with UAS programs. Volunteers sponsored by an agency are also able to obtain the CDPS UAS Pilot Certificate.
The CDPS training builds upon what the FAA requires by providing additional UAS knowledge, a written test based on course materials, and a flight test to assess the operator's remote pilot skills. After completing the course, the UAS pilot receives a CDPS UAS Pilot Certificate. The course is a must-have for agencies looking to train their personnel on how to safely and effectively operate UAS.
Benefits of the CDPS UAS Pilot Certificate include:
- Your UAS pilots meet State training standards
- Reduce your liability through outside agency training and certification
- Field credentials (CDPS UAS Pilot Card/ID) for on scene/at incident verification
- Participate in, and have access to, a statewide UAS resource list
- Transfer of best practices
Overview
The CDPS UAS pilot certification training ensures that public safety personnel meet the minimum standards established for CDPS personnel. The training requirements are described below and must be completed to acquire a CDPS UAS Pilot Certificate.
Training Requirements for the CDPS UAS Certificate
- Awareness of your organization’s policies and Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs)
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 Certificate
- Attend presentation on Risk Management, Aircraft, Sensors, Flight and Mission Planning, Airspace, Hardware, Software, Applications, Safety Items, Flight Certification Course, Lessons Learned, and Emerging Technology
- Written Test
- The exam tests personnel on information from the CDPS UAS training and must be completed annually.
- Flight Test
- The flight test assesses the pilot’s abilities to control the UAS by demonstrating flight maneuvers during specific movements and positioning the aircraft to observe test targets on the CDPS Flight Certification Course. The flight exam must be completed annually.
The course will be conducted at 375 County Road 352, Building 2060 Rifle, CO 81650.
The annual recertification and initial certification course with Part 107 and flight experience will begin at 1000 the day of the training.
NOTE: Registration for training is temporairly closed while we move to a new site.
Please return June 2, 2025 to register for upcoming classes.
