Drone Pathways: Foundations of Flight Operations
Drone Pathways: Foundations of Flight Operations Grades: 10-12 Number of Students: Up to 25 Number of Lessons: 20 Contact Hours: 15+ Additional Resources: Curriculum Sample Highlig hts: Chart a new path to exciting drone careers! Transform your CTE classroom into a dynamic aviation hub. Through expert scaffolding, Drone Pathways students master hands-on UAV assembly and real-world flight. Operating in flight crews, learners engage in problem solving and collaboration. Metacognition drives profound character development and a resilient growth mindset. Powerful curriculum extensions empower tomorrow’s aviators. Recommended Settings: Classroom CTE Curriculum and Lesson Topics: Subject Targets: Technology Curriculum Topics: Introduction to Drones & Inventory UAV Careers & LiPo Battery Technology Lab Safety & Motor Installation Assembly Completion & Peer Inspections Subsystems & Initial Power-up Forces of Flight & Flight Maneuvers Flight Sim Basics—Pitch and Roll Flight Sim—Throttle and Yaw Flight Sim—Pitch, Roll, Throttle, Yaw Agriculture Simulation—Sprayer Challenge Team Roles & Communication in Drone Operations Mission Planning & Flight Team Operations FAA Regulations & Ethical Use TRUST Test Preparation & Completion Pre-Flight Checklist & Flight Field Safety VLOS Flight Training—Basics VLOS Precision Maneuvers VLOS Mission Plan Capstone Planning & Rehearsal Final Flight Challenge & Reflection Standards Alignment: The Drone Pathways curriculum is aligned to CTE (career and technical education) standards, ensuring students gain skills directly applicable to high-demand careers. California CTE Anchor Standards: Anchor Standard 1.0: Academics: Apply literacy, mathematics, and science skills across technical content and contexts. Anchor Standard 2.0: Communications: Acquire and accurately use sector terminology and protocols at the career and college readiness level for communicating effectively in oral, written and multimedia formats. Anchor Standard 3.0: Career Planning and Management: Integrate multiple sources of career information from diverse formats to make informed career decisions, solve problems and manage personal career plans. Anchor Standard 5.0: Problem Solving and Critical Thinking: Solve problems using critical thinking skills (analyze, synthesize, and evaluate) independently and in teams. Solve problems using creativity and innovation. Anchor Standard 6.0: Health and Safety: Employ safety and health practices. Anchor Standard 8.0: Ethics and Legal Responsibilities: Understand and practice legal and ethical behavior as a citizen and employee. Anchor Standard 9.0: Leadership and Teamwork: Demonstrate leadership and teamwork skills in collaborative environments. Anchor Standard 10.0: Technical Knowledge and Skills: Apply technical knowledge and skills in a chosen career area. Anchor Standard 11.0: Demonstration and Application: Demonstrate and apply knowledge and skills through projects, presentations, or other forms of evidence. Florida CTE Standards: Private Pilot Ground School Standard 01.0: Demonstrate an understanding of safe and effective work practices. The student will be able to: 01.02: Demonstrate an understanding of situational awareness. 01.03: Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of fire hazards, and how to control and extinguish fires 01.04: Demonstrate an awareness and understanding for the need of safety devices, controls, guards and equipment. Standard 02.0: Demonstrate an understanding of fundamentals of flight. The student will be able to: 02.01: Name and compare the four forces of flight. 02.06: Describe the function of aircraft flight controls and their effect on aircraft pitch, roll, and yaw. Standard 09.0: Demonstrate effective communication skills. The student will be able to: 09.02: Read and understand graphs, charts, diagrams, and tables commonly used in this industry/occupation area. 09.07: Demonstrate interpersonal skills. Standard 12.0: Describe human factors related to safe aircraft operation. The student will be able to: 12.01: Describe effects of the flight environment on human physiology. 12.03: Explain crew resource management (CRM). Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operations 1 Standard 16.0: Demonstrate an understanding of the basics of unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The student will be able to: 16.01: Define UAS. 16.04: Categorize basic UAS types. Standard 17.0: Demonstrate an understanding why safety considerations and regulations are necessary. The student will be able to: 17.01: Explain harm and damage from inappropriate use. 17.02: Demonstrate basic understanding of restrictions of UAS flights. Standard 18.0: Understand the basic rules of safe operations. The student will be able to: 18.01: Describe appropriate locations and flight conditions. 18.02: Describe basic requirements for safe operations. Standard 19.0: Demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles of flights. The student will be able to: 19.01: Identify the structure and components of a UAS aircraft. 19.02: Explain the four forces of flight. 19.03: Explain the basic characteristics of roll, pitch, and yaw. Standard 20.0: Understand UAS propulsion and power. The student will be able to: 20.02: Describe the function and types of batteries used with UAS. Standard 23.0: Understand core components and assembly. The student will be able to: 23.01: Identify core components used in UAS. 23.03: Identify tools and equipment for UAS assembly. 23.04: Assemble and configure the assigned UAS. Standard 24.0: Demonstrate and execute basic UAS operations. The student will be able to: 24.01: Identify the components of the pre-flight checklist. 24.02: Execute pre-flight check. 24.03: Execute in-flight operations. 24.04: Define the roles of a UAS flight-crew. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operations 2 Standard 25.0: Demonstrate understanding of regulations and aeronautics principles. The student will be able to: 25.01: Review and understand federal regulations that govern UAS operations. 25.03: Describe current applications of UAS operations. Standard 26.0: Demonstrate understanding of mission planning, preparation, execution, and post flight debrief. The student will be able to: 26.02: Develop a flight plan/profile with defined outcomes. 26.03: Communicate mission flight plan/profile to flight crew. 26.06: Execute flight plan/profile. 26.07: Analyze and evaluate mission. Standard 27.0: Review current regulations. The student will be able to: 27.01: Review and Understand current federal regulations governing UAS operations. Florida Dept. of Education 2026 © Florida Department of Education—Career and Technical Education (CTE) Standards (UAS/Drone Specific). Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operations (Course Code: 9505100) South Carolina CTE Standards: Drone Technologies 1: Theory and Aeronautical Basics A. The FAA Part 107 License: 1. Describe the types of driver’s license and driver’s permits. A. The FAA Part 107 License: 2. Identify and analyze licensing requirements. A. The FAA Part 107 License: 3. Research and present required non-commercial license tests. D. Flying Preparation: 1. Demonstrate the proper inspection procedure prior to operating a UAS. D. Flying Preparation: 2. Demonstrate proper pilot staging area. D. Flying Preparation: 4. Analyze the safety guidelines for sUAS recreational users. D. Flying Preparation: 6. Analyze drone usage within the commercial industry. D. Flying Preparation: 7. Discuss the different types of UAVs. D. Flying Preparation: 8. Define each component of a drone. D. Flying Preparation: 9. Analyze how each drone component functions. D. Flying Preparation: 15. Understand the four forces of flight. D. Flying Preparation: 18. Analyze how multicopters fly. D. Flying Preparation: 22. Define the responsibilities of a remote PIC. D. Flying Preparation: 27. Understand visual-line-of-sight. D. Flying Preparation: 72. Understand lost link procedures D. Flying Preparation: 73. Understand fly-away procedures. D. Flying Preparation: 74. Understand battery fire procedures. D. Flying Preparation: 77. Assess knowledge regarding emergency flight procedures. D. Flying Preparation: 79. Analyze CRM effectiveness. D. Flying Preparation: 82. Assess knowledge regarding crew resources management (CRM). Drone Technologies 3: Learn to Fly A. Basic / Advanced Drone Flight: 23. Understand the basics of a controller. A. Basic / Advanced Drone Flight: 29. Assess knowledge regarding beginning flight skills. A. Basic / Advanced Drone Flight: 50. Understand lithium polymer battery care and maintenance A. Basic / Advanced Drone Flight: 51. Analyze charging tips. © 2026 South Carolina Department of Education. South Carolina Department of Education – Career and Technical Education (CTE) Standards (Drone Technology): Drone Technologies 1 Course Standards Drone Technologies 3 Course Standards Tennessee CTE Standards Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot 1.1: Careers. Identify and describe essential knowledge and skills for jobs within the small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) field. Analyze current sUAS jobs, job locations, salaries, upcoming career shifts related to sUAS technology, and how sUAS positions relate to other aviation positions. 2.2: Pilot in Command. Explain the responsibility and authority of the pilot in command (PIC) for a small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) mission. Demonstrate the PIC responsibilities for each step of a flight (pre-flight, normal in-flight, abnormal in-flight, emergency in-flight, and post flight). 3.4: Compare aircraft. Assess the impact of different small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) platforms on varying missions. For example, given specific missions explain which sUAS platform, including software, would be most successful for each mission. 4.1: Principles of Flight. Explain the fundamentals and principles of flight as they relate to small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Include aeronautical principles, aerodynamics, lift, drag, thrust, weight, acceleration, objects in motion through the air, and the forces that produce change to such motions. 5.1: Safe Operations. Interpret safety rules related to operating and using small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). While preparing and flying a mission, demonstrate safe operations with the sUAS aircraft, tools and equipment. Practice the appropriate attitudes and behaviors associated with the safe handling and operation of sUAS. 6.1: FAA Regulations. Demonstrate an understanding of Federal Aviation Authority regulations including registration requirements, categories of vehicles, system operators, ramifications of false reporting, accident reporting, and prohibition of operating multiple small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. 7.1: Crew Resource Management. Explain crew resource management to include identifying the medical conditions that would interfere with safe operations of a small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, factors affecting vision, and fitness for flight. 7.3: Crew Operations. Simulate a full small Unmanned Aircraft Systems crew during an operational flight employing aviation terminology and technical vocabulary. 9.1: Equipment and Tools. Identify equipment and tools related to small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Properly inspect and use equipment and tools related to small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. 9.2: Troubleshoot and maintain a small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) prior to a mission. Using the Federal Aviation Authority preflight checklist, conduct maintenance and preflight inspection procedures on a sUAS aircraft. Tennessee Department of Education—Career and Technical Education (CTE) Standards (UAS). Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot Course Standards Utah CTE Standards Unmanned Aerial Systems Strand 1: Students will gain an understanding of current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Small Unmanned Systems (UAS) laws and standards required to fly drones legally in the National Air Space (NAS). Standard 1: Understand the organization of 14 CFR Part 107: General Operating Rules, Remote Pilot Certification, Waivers, Airspace. Standard 2: Use Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles to provide a safe environment for UAS operations. Strand 3: Students will discover the new and upcoming technologies being used in UAS applications. Standard 2: Research applicable new and emerging UAS technologies. (Battery Technologies) Strand 4: Students will understand ethical and social responsibilities associated with UAS operation. Standard 3: Understand the pilot's responsibility to the UAS community. Strand 5: Students will understand how drones are used in the real world, the related jobs, and requirements for those jobs. Standard 1: Know the state of primary industrial applications of UAS. Strand 6: Students will learn flight operations skills: preflight, safety checks, flight and post-flight assessments, and any minor maintenance required. Standard 1: Develop an appreciation of being extremely aware of details. Standard 2: Understand the purpose of pre-flight checklists. Standard 3: Perform Safety checks on a variety of equipment. Standard 4: Conduct post-flight assessments. Unmanned Aerial Systems Lab: Design, Build, and Maintain Strand 1: Students will understand the main components and construction of multi-rotor and fixed-wing drones. Standard 1: Students will build a fixed wing or multi-rotor drone from a kit. (Students will demonstrate the airworthiness of the constructed drone by performing specific maneuvers or completing a flight test course.) Standard 2: Students will discover principles of flight and practice activities to demonstrate principles of flight. Strand 4: Students will understand the differences between categories of drones and the industrial application of those drones. Standard 1: Students will explore differences in aircraft that allow it to perform specialized tasks. Standard 2: Students will apply acquired knowledge and critical thinking skills to solve a real-world problem. © Utah State Board of Education (USBE), produced by and for the teachers of the State of Utah. For the full standards framework, please see: Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Strands and Standards UAS Lab: Design, Build, and Maintain Standards What's Included: CTE Starter Package Includes: Printed Instructor Guide: 1 Printed Pilot Logs: 11 Drone Backpacks: 2 Flex UAV Drone Assembly Kits: 2 Flight Simulator Controllers: 8 LiPo Batteries: 2 LiPo Battery Cell Checker: 1 LiPo Battery Charger: 1 LiPo Battery Killer: 1 LiPo Battery Safe Bags: 2 Nut Driver: 1 Radio Transmitters: 3 Radio Transmitter Tether Cable: 1 Safety Glasses: 10 Surge Protector: 1 Access to Flex UAV Flight Simulator Access to the Digital Resource Portal CTE Base Package Includes: Printed Instructor Guide: 1 Printed Pilot Logs: 26 Drone Backpacks: 5 Flex UAV Drone Assembly Kits: 5 Flight Simulator Controllers: 20 LiPo Batteries: 5 LiPo Battery Cell Checker: 1 LiPo Battery Chargers: 2 LiPo Battery Killer: 1 LiPo Battery Safe Bags: 2 Nut Driver: 1 Radio Transmitters: 6 Radio Transmitter Tether Cable: 1 Safety Glasses: 25 Surge Protector: 1 Access to Flex UAV Flight Simulator Access to the Digital Resource Portal CTE Plus Package Includes: Printed Instructor Guide: 1 Printed Pilot Logs: 52 Drone Backpacks: 10 Flex UAV Drone Assembly Kits: 10 Flight Simulator Controllers: 20 LiPo Batteries: 10 LiPo Battery Cell Checker: 1 LiPo Battery Chargers: 4 LiPo Battery Killer: 1 LiPo Battery Safe Bags: 2 Nut Driver: 1 Radio Transmitters: 11 Radio Transmitter Tether Cable: 1 Safety Glasses: 25 Surge Protectors: 2 Access to Flex UAV Flight Simulator Access to the Digital Resource Portal CTE Pro Package Includes: Printed Instructor Guide: 1 Printed Pilot Logs: 104 Drone Backpacks: 10 Flex UAV Drone Assembly Kits: 10 Flight Simulator Controllers: 20 LiPo Batteries: 15 LiPo Battery Cell Checker: 1 LiPo Battery Chargers: 4 LiPo Battery Killer: 1 LiPo Battery Safe Bags: 2 Nut Drivers: 10 Radio Transmitters: 11 Radio Transmitter Tether Cable: 1 Safety Glasses: 25 Surge Protectors: 2 BAT SAFE XL Battery Charging Safe Box: 1 Flight Field Kit (w/ first aid kit, cones & 2 safety vests): 1 Outdoor Drone Obstacle Course (3 flags & 3 gates): 1 Premium Spare Parts Kit (50 legs, 1 landing gear, 4 motor crash kits, 1-drone-set of screws, standoffs and assembly tools): 1 Drone Pilot Ground School 1-Year, 50-Seat LMS Site License for Part 107 Prep Access to Flex UAV Flight Simulator Access to the Digital Resource Portal Product Orientation: One-hour free webinar orientation included Step-by-step instructor onboarding course with videos included Technology Requirements/Specifications: One Internet-connected Chromebook, Windows, or Mac device per learner