February 7, 2019

Hinds CC a training ground for safe operation of drone technology

Training is part of new drone pilot regulations
BY: Danny Barrett Jr.

Against a backdrop of heavy machinery, fencing and freshly moved dirt, the Utica Campus officially broke ground on a new coed residence hall behind the Cooper Fine Arts Building on May 3.

The new residence hall, expected to be complete in December 2024, will have 183 beds on three floors, a laundry room, kitchen on the first floor, study rooms, computer lab, a mini-mart plus an apartment for a residence hall director.

“We are investing in our future, we are investing in our community and we are investing in our students,” said Sherry Bellmon, Vice President of Instruction, Career & Technical Education. Her office has been on the Utica Campus, an HBCU (Historically Black College and University), since 2019.

Hinds is using $28 million in federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds made available during the COVID-19 pandemic. In June, the U.S. Department of Education allowed colleges to make requests for use of remaining HERF funds. The college submitted a request and received approval to use the funds for the residence hall construction.

Bellmon said when Dr. Stephen Vacik became president in July 2020 he asked her what her top priority was for the campus. “He asked me, ‘What can I do for you?’ I told him I wanted a new residence hall for our students,” she said.

Dr. Vacik said he knew such a project would take considerable funds. “I made a promise to get this done when I first came to Hinds, and today I have made good on that promise. I am very grateful that we were able to find the resources needed for this project,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming.”

In the meantime, three existing residence halls on the opposite side of the campus are receiving much needed renovations including new HVAC and painting.

“This will be an exciting campus expansion,” said sophomore Lauren Gatlin. “I’m happy to see that we are moving forward and advancing resources on our campus. I hate I won’t be able to experience living in a new residence hall. This hall will be an essential tool for recruitment and increasing enrollment.”

Hinds recruiter and HBCU Liaison Donny Epting said the new building will be an asset to him as a recruiter.

“As an institution, it is our mission to provide students the best place possible to achieve their dreams. This new space will add to the many attributes that Hinds already maintains, which includes our costfriendly tuition, small class sizes and a variety of resources to help our students succeed,” he said.

Quoting Kevin Costner from the baseball movie “Field of Dreams,” he added: “Build it and they will come.”

RAYMOND – Hinds Community College is playing a vital role in building skills for Army employees working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

Unmanned Aircraft System

Recent revisions to USACE policies require pilots and operators of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or drones, be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration. An initial step toward that licensure, a Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107), involves a theory class that provides an in-depth review of all applicable FAA regulations and operational requirements to fly small UAS for commercial purposes.

“Hinds Community College takes pride in offering innovative programs and training that meets the needs of business and industry, keeping them at the forefront of the ever-changing technology,” said Dr. Chad Stocks, vice president for Workforce and Economic Development at Hinds. “Hinds leads the state and region in UAS training. The college’s workforce division recognizes the rapid growth in the UAS industry and how important, safe operation and solid understanding of federal regulations are to those piloting the drones.”

Staffers of various positions in the Corps, including those at the Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, are benefiting from studying aeronautical charts and the various classes of airspace. This training is key to the UAS course and fits well with the scope of existing digital mapping technology already used by Corps personnel.

Kevin Tillman (Hinds Community College/Tammi Bowles)

“This program is an excellent step in the right direction for ensuring a high-quality training program is in place,” said Jason Kirkpatrick, program manager responsible for UAS operations in the Corps. “An enterprise program like the USACE UAS effort cannot accept less than outstanding training.”

Employees at ERDC in Vicksburg are already measuring the benefits of the training.

“I work with a lot of high-speed photography in my job, so this will add to my capabilities,” said Kevin Tillman, with the Geotechnical and Structures Lab at ERDC.

Longtime employees such as Angela K. White have already seen technology change within their own area of expertise. The training serves to fortify their skills for the future.

“I’m hoping this session will give me a leg up promoting my career,” said Angela K. White, a visual information specialist with the Vicksburg District who moved from reconnaissance work to GIS work three years ago. She’s trained solely on aerial and ground systems up to now, but said the training will be a “big boost” to her abilities. “The future with my line of work is drones.”

Students enrolled in the formal UAS program at Hinds are trained in the piloting, construction, design and practical mechanics of multi-rotor and fixed-wing drones. The aircraft have revolutionized airborne data collection in the past decade. In 2015, a 2+2 agreement was established between Hinds and Mississippi State University for students in the program to earn credentials and become job-ready.

Angela K. White (Hinds Community College/Tammi Bowles)

“The Remote Pilot Certificate is the foundation to UAS pilots operating for USACE in civil and military research projects,” said Jenny Laird, the ERDC Aircrew Training Program Manager. “Hinds plays a critical role in providing this course, which is required for any UAS mission. The Part 107 certification gives drone pilots the knowledge needed to operate properly and safely in the National Airspace. The Educational Partnership Agreement that has been established between Hinds and ERDC has allowed for a seamless integration into Department of Defense guidelines. Through this agreement, Hinds has already trained 30 personnel, with an additional 15 scheduled for March 2019.”

For more information, contact Brad McCullouch, District Director of Commercial Aviation, based at the College-owned John Bell Williams Airport on the Raymond Campus, at Jack.McCullouch@hindscc.edu, 601.857.3300, or visit www.hindscc.edu.