Implementation of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Operational Capabilities: A Guide (2025)

Chapter: Appendix B: Texas Department of Transportation UAS Training Program Resources

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Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Texas Department of Transportation UAS Training Program Resources." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Implementation of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Operational Capabilities: A Guide. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/29132.
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APPENDIX B

Texas Department of Transportation UAS Training Program Resources

Table B-1. Summary of TxDOT UAS Training Courses.

FAA Part 107 Test Preparation Course Online 3 weeks Provides students with in-depth explanations of FAA laws relative to regulations, weather, airspace, payload and operations critical to remote pilot safe flight operations and essential to passing mandatory FAA Part 107 exam.
Drone Flying and Safety Introduction Hybrid -1 week in-person -4 weeks remote -1 week in-person 80 hrs Students will learn how to safely operate a small, unmanned quadcopter from set up to launch to flight landing, become proficient in basic/emergency launch & landing operations, and culminate in a variety of mission specific operations.
Small UAS (sUAS) Visual Observer Online 8 hrs This course is designed to train learners how to monitor the airspace in which the UAS is flying for any potential collision hazards and to maintain awareness of the position and conditions of the UAS at all times, in order to support the remote pilot.
Legal Considerations for Unmanned Vehicles Online 8 hrs The course provides students with in -depth explanations of FAA laws relative to regulations, weather, airspace, payload and operations critical to remote pilot safe flight operations and essential to passing mandatory FAA Part 107 exam.
sUAS Operations for Emergency Management Online 16 hrs In course the learner will understand Part 107 and Certificate of Authorization’s (COA) legal authority to fly; understand critical elements relative to resources, environments and missions; identify equipment, hazards and liabilities; understand sUAS in National Incident Management System & local Incident Management.
Meteorology Online 16 hrs In this course students understand how weather patterns develop, how weather can affect drone performance, how to read weather reports, interpret weather information for safe flight operations, and exploration of software systems that aid remote pilots.
Page 109
Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Texas Department of Transportation UAS Training Program Resources." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Implementation of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Operational Capabilities: A Guide. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/29132.
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Crew Resource Admin and Management Online 16 hrs The course includes applications designed to address the overview of Crew Resource Management for various careers, defining crew members, defining other resources, and determining appropriate crew members and resources for various missions.
Drone Flying and Safety Refresher In-person 8 hrs An annual refresher course that updates students on any changes in the past year to UAS regulations and TxDOT SOPs. Students complete multiple proficiency evaluations.

Source: TxDOT.

Table B-2. FAA Part 107 Test Preparation Course Overview.

Hours Days
Module 1 Introductions, Syllabus, Calendar, Objective 0.5
Chapter 1 –Regulations 3.0
Blackboard Test –25 questions 0.5
Module 2 Chapter 2 –Airspace, Topography 3.0
Blackboard Test –25 questions 0.5
Module 3 Chapter 3 –Weather 2.0
Blackboard Test –25 questions 0.5
Module 4 Chapter 4 –Loading and performance 2.5
Blackboard Test –25 questions 0.5
Module 5 Chapter 5 –Operations 2.5
Blackboard Test –25 questions 0.5
Module 6 Aeronautical Decision-Making 1.0
Scenarios 1.0
Blackboard Final Exam –50 questions 1.0
Webinar / Zoom Review –Day 1 3.0
Webinar / Zoom Review –Day 2 3.0
Total Hours 24.0 15

Source: TxDOT.

Page 110
Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Texas Department of Transportation UAS Training Program Resources." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Implementation of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Operational Capabilities: A Guide. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/29132.
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Table B-3. FAA Part 107 Test Preparation Course Schedule.

Week 1 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Self-Study Module 1 Instructor review Module 1 Self-Study Module 2 Instructor review Module 2 Self-Study Module 3
4 hours 1 hour 3.5 hours 1 hour Instructor by request
Week 2 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Self-Study Module 3 Instructor review Module 3 Self-Study Module 4 Instructor review Module 4 Self-Study Module 5
2.5 hours 1 hour 3 hours 1 hour Instructor by request
Week 3 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Self-Study Module 5 Instructor review Module 5 Self-Study Module 6 Instructor review Module 6 Final Exam
3 hours 1 hour 2 hours 1 hour 1 hour

Source: TxDOT.

Table B-4. Introduction to Flying and Safety Operations Course Overview (In-Person Component Schedule).

DATE ITEM HOURS
Week 1 Day 1: Course Orientation Instructor/Student Introductions 0800–0815
TxDOT Drone Policy & Procedures (SOPs) 0815–0900
Break 0900–0915
Ground School Review 0915–1000
NOTE: No morning flight session!
Mavic Mini Distribution & inventory DJI Setup 1000–1200
Lunch 1200–1300
iPad Mini 3 and DJI Fly - Communications Reqs - Card & call outs 1300–1500
Break / Head outdoors 1500–1515
Basic Flights (Line, Box patterns - No iPads in use) 1515–1700
Week 1 Day 2: Software/Mission Planning Typical software and apps 0800–0945
Break / Head outdoors 0945–1000
Basic flights (box patterns all directions, serpentine - No iPads) 1000–1200
Lunch 1200–1300
Mission Planning and deployment 1300–1445
Break / Head outdoors 1445–1500
Intermediate Flights (Advanced Box, Fig 8, etc.- No iPads) 1500–1700
Week 1 Day 3 Payload Operation and first-person view (FPV)
Principles of Drone Photography - Basic 0800–1000
FPV and iPad Use
Break / Head outdoors 1000–1015
Manual Orbits – Point of Interest (POI) Photography - Use iPads 1015 – 1200
Lunch 1200 – 1300
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Man 1300–1500
1/Pay 1 and Theory
Break / Head outdoors 1500 – 1515
Fly NIST Course (Camera Views using iPads) 1515–1700
Balloon Race
Page 111
Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Texas Department of Transportation UAS Training Program Resources." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Implementation of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Operational Capabilities: A Guide. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/29132.
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DATE ITEM HOURS
Week 1 Day 4: Air Boss, Ramp Checks, Weather, Night Ops Air Boss, Ramp Checks, Emergency protocols 0800–1000
Break and Head outdoors 1000–1015
Intermediate Flight - Practice all exercises 1015–1200
Lunch 1200 – 1300
Weather / Night operations 1300 – 1500
Break and head outdoors 1500 – 1515
Advanced Flights - /Outdoors fly around trees

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*10 minute break given every hour when not moving to flight areas.		 1515–1700
Week 1 Day 5: Weather Makeup day Slack Time and fly Austin Community College (ACC) aircraft
Week 2 Day 1: Automated Flights Dronelink Setup and initiation
Break and head outdoors 0800–1000
Fly automated mission 1000–1015
Lunch 1015–1200
Building and Roof Inspection 1200–1300
Break and head outdoors 1300–1500
Fly Roof Inspection - Exterior ACC Public Safety Training Center 1500–1515
1515–1700
Week 2 Day 2: Laws and Liability TxDOT iTwin Capture Modeler training 0800–1200
In lieu of another automated flight use Day 1 data
Lunch 1200–1300
COA’s; Waivers; Hazards; 1300–1500
Case laws, decisions, issues
Break and head to Force On Force room 1500–1515
Confined Space Flying - Obstacle Course - (Option - Timed) 1500–1700
Week 2 Day 3: Data Analysis Sensors and Payloads – forward-looking infrared (FLIR), near-infrared (NIR), red green blue (RGB) 0800–1000
Break and head outdoors 1000–1015
Flight advanced (Automated Flight - Execution only) 1015–1200
Lunch 1200–1300
Image analysis techniques “squinting” 1300–1500
Break and head outdoors 1500–1600
Image Analysis flights – Emergency Vehicle Obstacle Course 1600–1700
Quick Squint session to locate objects 1600–1700
Week 2 Day 4: Final Written Exam 0800–0900
Scenario Description 0900–1000
Break and respond to assigned mission 1000–1015
Scenario Flights 1015–1200
Lunch 1200–1300
Class Presentations 1300–1500
Break and return to class 1500–1515
Drone Collection; Class Evals 1515–1600
Certificates awarded 1615–1700
Week 2 Day 5 NIST Test Man 1/Pay 1 Baseline Collection

Source: TxDOT.

Page 112
Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Texas Department of Transportation UAS Training Program Resources." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Implementation of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Operational Capabilities: A Guide. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/29132.
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The data given in the text box are as follows: This course is 80 hours of training using online learning, classroom, and practical field environments. Because the majority of time is dedicated to actual flight operations, students taking this course must be ready to commit substantial time to practicing flight skills outside of the classroom and lab environments. Students will learn how to safely operate small unmanned aircraft systems and will be exposed to basic crew resource management. Students must possess a valid 14 CFR part 107 license prior to enrollment in this course. Part 1: Administration: Syllabus and Objectives, Online Netiquette, PSTC FAQs. Module 1 - DJI manual. Module 2 - Drones in Industry. Module 3 - DJI Fly App and Camera Operations Introduction to NIST. Module 4 - Liability of sUAS Operations. Module 5 - History, CRM, ADM, Confined Space. Module 6 - Drones and Inspections - Pros, Cons, and Positive Results. Module 7 - Automated Flights and Data Analysis. Module 8 - The Big Picture Robotics and Beyond; Air Boss and Remote Pilots. Each of these modules shows an option for opting towards the right.
Source: TxDOT.

Figure B-1. Introduction to Flying and Safety Operations Course Overview (Online Component Outline).
Page 108
Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Texas Department of Transportation UAS Training Program Resources." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Implementation of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Operational Capabilities: A Guide. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/29132.
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Page 109
Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Texas Department of Transportation UAS Training Program Resources." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Implementation of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Operational Capabilities: A Guide. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/29132.
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Page 109
Page 110
Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Texas Department of Transportation UAS Training Program Resources." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Implementation of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Operational Capabilities: A Guide. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/29132.
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Page 110
Page 111
Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Texas Department of Transportation UAS Training Program Resources." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Implementation of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Operational Capabilities: A Guide. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/29132.
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Page 111
Page 112
Suggested Citation: "Appendix B: Texas Department of Transportation UAS Training Program Resources." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Implementation of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Operational Capabilities: A Guide. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/29132.
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