Page 18 - TransTodayWIWinter2023

18 | Transportation Today Wisconsin™ Online Edition: www.transportationtodaywi.com

Taking Flight: NRHS is Navigating the Future through a

Pilot Study Class on Drones

ing flight!” said senior Katelyn Doehrmann. careers that may not include drones.”
Throughout the course, to help stu- Mr. Bennig and the students are thrilled
dents prepare for the Pilot’s Test, Mr. Bennig to learn about the new rules and regulations,
has prepared obstacle courses, terminology but they are also excited to learn about every-
studies, and many opportunities for students thing that a drone is now capable of. “I am
to learn and practice flying a drone in different excited to learn how to take pictures and make
environments and locations. cool videos with a drone,” said junior Ethan
The pilot course is already becoming Panek.
cross-categorical as Mr. Bennig Following the initial pilot
and his students are working course on drones, Mr.
with the New Richmond Bennig hopes to offer
High School Computer Club this as a full course in the
and Yearbook Committee to years to come so that all
take photographs and videos students have the oppor-
only possible via drone. tunity to participate and
Drones are becom- experience a variety of
ing extremely adaptable and unique passions during their
skilled, not only in taking photographs time at New Richmond High School.
and videos but also in more rigorous activi- With the opportunity to become a full course,
ties. Some drones are now used to inspect many students will be able to learn valuable
roofs, power lines, and high areas, review soil future skills that are included in drone opera-
and water distribution in fields, and even help tions and other non-drone applications. We
School District of New Richmond Last year during an “Operation Explo-
Madelyn Kohn ration” event, students were allowed the law enforcement by using infrared sensing. are also hoping to develop some dual-credit
“The skills that our students master while
Supervisor of Communications opportunity to try new activities and explore learning about and flying their drones will college courses with a local technical school.
New Richmond High School has created beyond the scope of a regular school day. include photography and cinematography,
a strong name for itself in many areas of aca- During this time, one opportunity students meteorology, and aviation,” said Mr. Bennig.
demics and aims to continuously grow in the had was to explore the world of drone tech- “This will prepare them for many other www.newrichmond.k12.wi.us
future. The Students’ Opportunities with Agri- nology. The student interest in the topic of
cultural Resources (SOAR) Program has had drones prompted Mr. Trent Bennig, a Com-
extreme success in various areas of agricul- puter Science Teacher at New Richmond High
School, to run a pilot course this year as an
ture, while the Welding Program has made a independent study focused on drones. “The GAMA Aviation Design Challenge 2024
strong impact on our students by helping them
earn their American Welding Society Shielded opportunity for students to become certified will receive complimentary “Fly to Learn”
Metal Arc Welding D1.1 certification before drone pilots will open many doors for job curricula, which comes with flight simula-
even graduating from New Richmond High opportunities,” said Mr. Bennig. tion software powered by X-Plane. Teachers
School. The goal of this pilot course is to will guide students through the science of
The Career and Technical Education prepare students for the Pilot’s Test through flight and airplane design, completing the
teachers at New Richmond High School are the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). curricula in approximately six weeks in
invested in finding new ways to better support “This class presents a unique opportunity to the classroom or in four weeks through an
student interests and learning needs, and they explore the complexities of aeronautics, air- accelerated program. Each high school will
are dedicated to providing opportunities for space, weather theory, and much more which apply what they have learned by modifying
students to explore passions they may never will prove extremely useful in pursuing my the design of an airplane. The schools will
have thought possible. private pilot license as well as a future involv- then compete in a virtual fly-off, which will
be scored on aerodynamic and performance
parameters while flying a specific mission
profile. Judges from GAMA will select the
winning school based on that score and other
factors.
The General Aviation Manufacturers The first place prize will include an all-
Association (GAMA) is sponsoring the Avi- expenses-paid trip for up to four high school
ation Design Challenge to promote Science, students, one teacher and one chaperone
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics from the winning team to experience general
(STEM) education through aviation cur- aviation manufacturing firsthand.
riculum and a virtual fly-off in high schools For more information and to register go
across the united States. to https://gama.aero/opportunities-in-ga/avia-
Registration is limited to the first 150 tion-challenge
u.S. high schools (all types). Teams, which
can be either high school classes or after-
school programs, must include at least, but
not limited to, three students, including at
least two students of different genders, with
the exception of single-sex schools. Only
one team per school may enter.
Schools registered for the competition