OBAP Announces UAS Training Scholarships

Partnering with Fly Robotics, The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals enhance Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academies with “drone training” this summer.

The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) is proud to announce a partnership with Fly Robotics, the leading resource for training in the field of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), to teach students to assemble, program, conduct testing and fly drones. The sUAS Training will take place as an extension of OBAP's Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academies in two cities; June 26 -28 at Wooddale High School in Memphis and June 12 - 14 at Ben C. Rain High School in Mobile, Alabama. Department of Defense certified instructors and thorough safety and introductory sUAS curriculum add invaluable enhancements to the nationally recognized, FAA-endorsed, education and mentoring academies.

According to a 2013 report from the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, FAA approval of commercial drones could lead to the creation of 100,000 new U.S. jobs by the year 2025. "We are acting on our responsibility to prepare and train a diverse group of young adults to meet projected employment needs. By establishing this partnership with Fly Robotics, OBAP is setting the groundwork to ensure that hundreds of students throughout the country will be prepared to lead the impending positions in both government and commercial sectors," said OBAP chairman, Captain James Gordon.

In 2013, Wooddale was outfitted with a National Flight Academy (NFA) Aviation Classroom Experience through contributions from OBAP, TEQGames and corporate sponsor FedEx Express. Just last month, OBAP and FedEx again partnered to donate a Boeing 727 engine to B.C. Rain's Aviation and Aerospace Academy. "These two high schools have been identified as OBAP's premier locations for sUAS Training, in part because of the established aviation-related facilities, and also, because of the mobilized and motivated faculty and leadership at each school, who have been instrumental in helping to expose aviation-related opportunities to promising students," said FedEx pilot and former OBAP chairman Captain Albert Glenn.

The organization is awarding nearly $8,000 in scholarships to eight qualified students to participate in each of the three-day sUAS trainings. Open to 20 students at each site, interested individuals, between the ages of 16 - 21, can register to attend OBAP's two sUAS Training sessions for $995 on Fly Robotics's website www.fly-robotics.com/shop/ until May 30th.

About The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP)

Founded in 1976, OBAP's mission is to increase diversity in aerospace careers through the enhancement, advancement and promotion of educational and mentorship opportunities for youth and young adults. OBAP's Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academies provide exposure to the History of Aviation, Fundamentals of Aerodynamics, Air Traffic Control Procedures, Aerospace Technologies and a host of aviation careers to consider. www.obap.org

About Fly Robotics

Fly Robotics Ground and Flight School is an sUAS Center of Excellence. Designed by former Military UAS Flight Instructors, Fly Robotics Educational Content was developed with one objective in mind, passing the FAA Commercial sUAS Operator Exam. Fly Robotics instructors have over 7,500 operational hours of flight in multiple theaters. Military Veterans themselves, they've flown over 30 types of aircraft and served as test pilots for numerous designs. www.fly-robotics.com/shop/