Public Safety Drone Operator I is a three-day course designed to provide new and developing UAS pilots with the knowledge, confidence, and hands-on skills needed to operate drones safely and effectively. The course takes students through the complete flight process—from initial mission planning and aircraft preparation to flight operations, emergency response, post-flight inspections, and documentation.

Students will learn how to inspect and prepare the aircraft, remote controller, batteries, propellers, cameras, memory cards, and supporting equipment. Instruction also covers weather conditions, airspace considerations, site assessments, obstacle identification, launch and recovery zones, return-to-home settings, battery management, and the responsibilities of the Remote Pilot in Command and visual observer.

Hands-on training begins with aircraft setup and controller familiarization before progressing to takeoffs, landings, hovering, directional movement, turns, altitude control, aircraft orientation, precision maneuvering, and structured flight patterns. Students will also practice flight-team communication, aerial photography and video, safe battery changes, equipment turnaround, and scenario-based public-safety operations.

The course addresses common in-flight problems and emergency procedures, including loss of control signal, GPS or compass errors, unexpected aircraft movement, low-battery warnings, emergency landings, and return-to-home activation. Students will learn how to make appropriate go/no-go decisions and respond to abnormal conditions while protecting personnel, equipment, and the public.

By the end of the course, students should be able to plan and conduct a complete UAS mission, safely operate the aircraft, communicate with supporting team members, collect usable aerial images, and properly complete post-flight inspections and documentation.

No previous drone-flight experience is required. This course is appropriate for law enforcement, fire services, emergency management, search-and-rescue teams, private security organizations, and other public-safety personnel who operate or support UAS missions.

The course covers the complete flight process, including:

• Aircraft components and system setup
• Preflight planning and site assessment
• Weather and airspace considerations
• Aircraft inspections and safety checks
• Controller settings and flight modes
• Basic aircraft maneuvers
• Takeoffs, landings, hovering, and controlled flight
• Battery management
• Emergency and lost-link procedures
• Crew communication and operational safety
• Post-flight inspections, documentation, and equipment care

The course combines classroom instruction with practical flight exercises.

Training Location

Bibb County Sheriff's Office Training Division 1166 Jackson Street Macon, GA 31201

Contact Info for questions: Darrin Marcus- President/CEO- Marcus and Marcus, Inc.- 478-461-4309