Thanks to a partnership with Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus, 30 Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism employees will receive UAS training from May through June.

The employees will attend small UAS (sUAS) Commercial Remote Pilot Training and then be eligible to sit for the FAA exam to become certified as remote pilots in command. 18 Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism staff members will complete Basic Multirotor Training, allowing them to become proficient in basic aircraft maneuvers and safety procedures.

12 officers who serve in an enforcement capacity will complete the Law Enforcement Training over two separate weeks. Through this training, officers will be provided with “extensive hands-on flight training” related to several areas, including fundamental and advanced maneuvers, search and rescue, and night operations.

“The UAS training will help our law enforcement officers ensure safety across the state by being able to conduct search and recovery efforts more efficiently with UAS,” says Susan Steffen, fisheries biologist for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. “Our biologists will be able to use the UAS training to conduct research on fish and wildlife populations.”

Kansas State Polytechnic's aircraft and payload technology will be used for both flight training courses.

“We are extremely proud to be selected as the UAS training provider for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism,” says Kurt Carraway, executive director of the Kansas State Polytechnic's Applied Aviation Research Center.

“This is our first opportunity to train an entire statewide division, and the opportunity for two state of Kansas entities to partner is always exciting. The synergy behind this collaboration will continue to keep Kansas as the frontrunner in UAS technology and integration.”

Kansas State Polytechnic was recently named third-place winner in the training and education category of AUVSI’s inaugural Xcellence awards.