Effectiveness of a remote pilot certification training for agricultural professionals

Drones are a technology being implemented to provide additional information to farmers about their production systems. It is important for agricultural educators, researchers, and other agricultural service professionals to engage in using drones to help provide answers to farmer questions and help expand farmer awareness of their potential uses. To engage in these activities, an educator or researcher must receive their remote pilot certification [certification required by the Federal Aviation Administration for educational activities utilizing drones]. Two separate drone certification trainings were implemented in Princeton and Lexington, KY in 2020. The effectiveness of the trainings, along with their use of learning activities such as lecture tutorials and a sample exam, were assessed. Overall, participants in both locations self‐identified significant increases in their knowledge of each topic and potential behavioral change as a result of the workshop with some differences between locations. Sample exam scores increased by over 10% in each location following the training. The sectional chart and Aviation Routine Weather Report lecture tutorials were highly rated as 89% and 100% of respondents, respectively, either somewhat agreed, agreed, or strongly agreed that they helped them learn the material. This study provides results and relevant information for the administration of effective drone certification trainings. Core Idea The training significantly increased self‐assessed knowledge in all categories for remote pilot certification. Sample exam scores increased by greater than 10% following the training. Most participants rated lecture tutorials as helpful for learning the material.