Want to learn how to fly drones in real life instead of just through online tutorials? You’re not alone. While there are plenty of excellent online drone courses, nothing beats hands-on instruction from an experienced pilot. In-person drone training gives you practical flight time, immediate feedback, and even a chance to connect with other drone enthusiasts.
Whether you want to fly drones for fun, work toward your Part 107 license, or use drones for a meaningful mission — like search and rescue for lost pets — here are the best ways to learn to fly drones in person.
The best ways to learn how to fly drones in-person
UAV Coach
For in-person learning, my first recommendation is to sign up for a personal drone training course through UAV Coach. They also happen to offer an incredible online Part 107 training course.
- Cost: Typically $200–$500 for 2–3 hour lessons.
- Format: 1:1 or small group sessions held in safe outdoor areas such as parks and athletic fields.
- What you’ll learn: Flight operations, drone regulations, DJI flight modes, and advanced programming.
UAV Coach offers two-three hour, personal drone flight lessons for individuals or small groups. UAV Coach offers trainings in more than 20 cities around the U.S. including Atlanta, Miami, Boston, Denver, Chicago and — not too far from you — in Gaithersburg, Maryland (view all the available cities here).
Classes are held outside in locations like public parks and athletic fields. That makes for a safe, easy environment to learn to fly drones with few obstacles.
Since these are 1:1 or small group classes, they can easily be personalized to cover topics you’re interested in. Learning areas include flight operations management, rules and regulations, DJI flight modes, and intelligent / advanced programming.
Classes vary slightly by location. After all, it’s a different instructor for nearly every city. But typically, you’ll learn to fly on an instructor-provided DJI drone. Or, if you have your own drone, the instructor can help you fly your own device too.
And since they’re 1:1, there’s tons of flexibility of scheduling. Whether you prefer a weekend, you want to wait for the summer, you want to get going now, there’s a time slot to accommodate you.
DARTdrones
DARTdrones is another well-known training provider, famous for its industry-specific drone courses. Their beginner classes are ideal for learning the basics, but they also offer advanced tracks for mapping, modeling, and professional operations.
DARTdrones has a long-list of in-person courses. Some are more beginner-focused (including a basic flying class), which would be great for your use case of searching for a lost cat with a drone.
But if you take it and get hooked, you might take the next step in your drone learning career through DARTdrones. Its flagship program, the Professional Wings Program, teaches you how to fly, how to get your Part 107 license and how to plan and execute missions all in one course, which is also an AUVSI TOP 1 Certified Training program. If you’re ready to take the next step and earn your AUVSI TOP Level 2 Certificate, DARTdrones offers a separate Trusted Operator Program Level 2 Remote Pilot Certification.
DARTdrones also has other partnerships with key industry players, such as DroneDeploy. Together, they offer an Aerial Mapping and Modeling Workshop so you can develop the skills you need to effectively gather, analyze and export mapping data.
DARTdrones is led by CEO Abby Speicher, who came into the spotlight after pitching her company on Shark Tank. There, Mark Cuban invested $300,000 in exchange for 10% of her company. These days, DARTdrones is a drone-training giant. While its well-known for its online and virtual courses, its in-person courses are truly special.
DJI enterprise dealers
Authorized DJI enterprise dealers not only sell high-powered drones but often provide training and free demos. For example, Drone Nerds offers hands-on sessions that are focused on enterprise use cases. Their team will work with customers to provide a unique training program tailored to your needs.
This can be a great option if you’re investing in a more advanced drone and want expert training at the point of purchase.
Free ways to learn how to fly drones
If you’re on a budget, there are plenty of ways to get flight experience without spending hundreds of dollars on a class.
Local drone meetup groups
Websites like Meetup.com or Facebook are great places to find local drone user groups. Many groups are free to join and host in-person flying events where members share tips and guidance.
For example, the Los Angeles & Orange County Drone User Group gave me invaluable hands-on learning when I was just starting out. Many cities have similar communities eager to welcome new pilots.
AMA fields
Becoming a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) unlocks access to thousands of AMA-chartered flying sites nationwide. Membership is typically $75 annually, and clubs often provide informal mentoring from seasoned pilots.
Within 25 miles of Manchester, Maryland, there are 16 AMA clubs — so chances are good you’ll find a supportive flying community nearby.
When I first started flying drones, I joined the Los Angeles & Orange County Drone User Group, which is the local group where I was living at the time in Southern California. It was filled with wonderful, supportive people who taught me a lot out of the goodwill of their hearts! These days, there are dozens of groups in Southern California alone. Join the online versions of the meetup groups in your area, and for the ones that you connect with, attend their IRL events.
What about training to earn my drone pilot’s license?
That said, what if you’re trying to learn the information needed to pass the Part 107 test? That’s the test you’ll have to pass in order to earn your drone pilot’s license, which you’ll need to operate drones commercially. I’ll be frank: I recommend you go for a virtual class rather than an in-person course for a few reasons:
- Part 107 online courses are generally so much cheaper than their in-person counterparts
- Membership to Part 107 online training programs typically doesn’t expire. If it does, it’s typically at least a month after signing up. That’s great, as you can watch and rewatch sections you didn’t understand.
- It’s a lot of information to absorb. I found trying to cram in one weekend wasn’t as useful as watching lessons over a period of time, and then re-watching them when I could multi-task to ensure I absorbed the information. Pace yourself, and only take in as much as you can in one setting. Then, turn on your online drone training course and rewatch lessons while you’re chopping veggies!
Here’s a list of my favorite Part 107 online test prep courses.
Happy flying!
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