UAS degree programs growing with market.

• Author: Sicard, Sarah

By 2025, there could be more than 100,000 jobs in the unmanned aerial systems industry, according to a 2013 economic impact report performed by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. This, in addition to the manufacturing, maintenance, sales and operations of drones, is estimated to generate $82 billion by the same year.

As interest in military and commercial usage of these systems continues to grow, so too will the need for experienced sensor operators and pilots. To fill those jobs, a number of universities across the country have launched unmanned aerial systems pilot and research degree programs, which focus on everything from war fighting to package delivery and fire fighting.

Upon completion of these programs, students will be able to leverage their degrees into successful military and--industry leaders hope soon--commercial UAS careers, said program instructors.

Though the military continues to have increasingly high numbers of job opportunities in unmanned aerial systems operations, commercial drone careers have not been able to expand as quickly. Privacy and safety issues concerning how UAS can interact securely with manned aircraft in the national airspace may further delay the 2014 end-year congressional deadline to set regulations for small unmanned aerial systems.

However, industry leaders are still waiting for the Federal Aviation Administration to give industry the go-ahead to use drones in national airspace.

The FAA was expected to publish draft regulations for small, unmanned aircraft before the end of December. Although it is not certain, industry leaders are hopeful that upon its release the draft will also contain rules for commercial drone usage.

Many of these schools are anxiously waiting for the draft release, as programs are unable to expand without proper regulations, said Al Palmer, director of the University of North Dakota Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research, Education and Training.

Though the FAA missed the date to set overall rules for small unmanned aerial systems, it has increased the number of exceptions for UAS use, which will serve as a stepping stone toward integrating unmanned aircraft operations safely, said Michael Huerta, the FAA administrator.

Program directors at these schools are confident that when the FAA sets rules for small commercial drone usage, tens of thousands of jobs will open up for workers with niche skills that accompany UAS degrees.

Students who graduate...