The CITRIS Initiative for Drone Education and Research (CIDER) is starting its fourth year of training new drone pilots through the CIDER Pilot Training Program. During 16 weeks in the Winter and Spring quarters of 2025, CIDER will train 41 undergraduate students from UC Santa Cruz, to operate drones safely for research and job opportunities. Four graduate students will also join to audit the program. Participants can choose between an agriculture-focused or general track based on their academic background and interests.
During the Winter quarter, students will receive comprehensive training to prepare for the FAA remote pilot license exam, required to fly drones commercially. The exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions and takes place at an FAA facility. Topics covered include federal drone regulations, reading aeronautical charts, national airspace, airport operations, aviation weather, and pilot physiology. The CIDER program also emphasizes safety, security, and privacy, with in-depth examinations of these topics in drone operations.
The Spring quarter is project-based, with students working in small teams to complete real-life drone projects with components of videography, mapping, and 3D scanning. To successfully complete their projects, students will also learn the basics of Drone Deploy and QGIS, commonly used software to manage drone data. The program culminates in a drone industry professionals panel, networking session, and student project presentations.
CIDER was founded in 2021, and the first Drone Pilot Training Program cohort started in 2022. The program has evolved every year as the CIDER team continually modifies it to be more engaging and hands-on. The core mission of CIDER and the Drone Pilot Training Program is to increase and support diversity, equity, and inclusion in the drone industry, along with training responsible drone pilots who prioritize safety, privacy, and security when operating drones.
In addition to running the Drone Pilot Training Program, CIDER collaborates with various educational organizations in the community, such as Hartnell College, Digital Nest, and Rancho Cielo, to train their instructors and support their drone program curriculum development. CIDER also contracts with federal, state, and local agencies and industry to complete drone surveys for their needs. Additionally, CIDER works with the industry and community to develop a workforce that can meet the current and near-future demand. For more information about CIDER’s efforts in drone education and research, visit the CIDER website.
CIDER is one of many initiatives under the Center for Information Technology in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) and the Banatao Institute. Established in 2001, CITRIS is a multi-campus initiative focused on research and emerging technologies. CITRIS leverages the interdisciplinary research strengths of UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and UC Merced to advance the University of California's mission. The institute aims to shorten the pipeline between world-class laboratory research and the development of impact applications, platforms, companies, and new industries, with a strong emphasis on creating solutions to significant societal challenges. For more information, visit the CITRIS website.