Aims o ering drone degree at Windsor campus

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Drones are becoming big business and now Aims Community College is o ering a degree in ying them. Aims Community College at the Windsor Campus is o ering its rst Unmanned Aerial Systems Associate of Applied Science Degree this fall. It is the rst UAS degree provided in Colorado, and Aims is the 15th two-year college to o er a degree nationwide.

“Since 2021, Aims has o ered a UAS certi cate to prepare students to take the Federal Aviation Administration small Unmanned Aerial Systems certi cation exam and obtain the basic credentials to y drones professionally,” said Jake Marshall, UAS Chief Instructor Pilot in a written statement.

“ is new associate degree program takes things to the next level as this industry expands.,” he wrote. “It provides students with the basics of ying with professional-level drones and the ability to build and program their own drones.”

Marshall said the demand for using UAS has increased over the years. e Unmanned Aircraft Systems Sciences program teaches students to operate and program them and helps them learn important information and FAA rules about piloting a drone.

Certi ed pilots are in demand, he said. e FAA predicts an average annual job growth rate of 24.7 percent. Market research shows an estimated increase of 100,000 dronerelated jobs by 2025.

“ e annual average wage for a UAS operator is $80,000 per year,” he said. “ ere are some established companies, and new ones are starting every day. ey all need pilots to take their companies to the next level.” e Aims program hopes to tap into that market.

“ e program cultivates opportunities for students to gain experience such as working on mapping construction sites for Weld County and lming regional television commercials,” ,” Marshall said. “Students are involved with some extracurricular projects beyond just the class we o er. We’re building up this case for the need and now we’re adding the classes to support all this.” e Aims Community College their say, and the majority gets their way,” Evans said.

Windsor Campus’ new Gateway facility expected to open in January 2024. e new academic building will have a drone fabrication, design lab, takeo , and land pad.

“ is facility allows our students to design and build drones and test them. I believe that people who love technology, have an entrepreneurial spirit and are adaptable to change will thrive in a UAS career,” Marshall wrote. “You’re going to be a part of the pioneer stage of the industry. I want our students to be leaders and part of the next evolution of drones to accomplish our societal needs.” For more information on the drone classes, visit windsor@aims.edu or call (970) 339-6610.

He said state house Republicans are ghting attempts to water down or repeal Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights. ey failed to stop Proposition HH, which will be on the ballot in November. Proposition HH would raise the cap on state revenues, allowing government to keep more excess revenue before having to refund the money, under TABOR.

He promised to do better.

“We will have a better piece of legislation next year,” Evans said.

Evans said if voters approve in November, it will allow state and local governments to keep around $10 bil-