With an eye toward supporting future global market requirements, L-3 Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link) [LLL] said it is collaborating with Dayton, Ohio-based Sinclair Community College to educate students and industry participants in the operation and application of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
In support of this initiative, which aims to establish a National UAS Training and Certification Center on Sinclair’s campus, L-3 Link has designed and will install its UAS Classroom Training Suite, which includes 10 student stations that have independent vehicle and sensor controls. Sinclair has developed a curriculum and course materials, and will provide classroom instruction.
“With the rapid expansion of UAS platforms around the world, a job market has been created that requires talented and educated people skilled in the operation of unmanned systems,” said Leonard Genna, president of L-3 Link, during the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International in Washington, D.C. “We are proud to team with Sinclair Community College to deliver a training solution that meets civilian UAS training needs, an area that has the potential for tremendous growth.”
Deb Norris, Sinclair vice president for Workforce Development & Corporate Services, said: “We believe this agreement with L-3 Link is another important step in our stated goal of developing a national UAS Training and Certification Center at Sinclair Community College. L-3 Link’s significant expertise in UAS simulation and training fits well with that of our other regional UAS partners including the Center for UAV Exploitation and IDCAST affiliated with the University of Dayton Research Institute, Woolpert, a national leader in geospatial data collection and analysis, and Co-Operative Engineering Services, a UAV manufacturer and services provider.”
The L-3 Link-built UAS Classroom Training Suite includes a single instructor operator station and UAS training models that can be tailored and adapted to represent a specific UAS platform type. The suite will provide training focused on flight operations, payload integration, sensors, controls and communications, the company said. In developing and fielding this suite, L-3 Link is able to offer a full complement of training solutions that range from initially exposing students to UAS concepts to providing experienced operators with mission qualification opportunities in complex UAS platforms.