LEDA and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST):
Advancing UAS Pilot Proficiency
At LEDA, we are committed to elevating the standards for Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) pilot training. In partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), we have developed two flagship courses—LEDA Flight Skills 1 and Flight Skills 2—designed to enhance the skills and proficiency of UAS pilots. These courses incorporate NIST's standardized testing methods, ensuring that the training is measurable, repeatable, and of the highest quality.
LEDA Flight Skills 1 & 2: What You Need to Know
Our Flight Skills courses are tailored to help drone pilots maintain proficiency and demonstrate their competence across a wide range of essential flight skills. These standardized courses allow pilots to work toward earning a LEDA Flight Skills certificate, which serves as a recognized credential valid for one year. Upon successful completion of the course, pilots receive both a certificate and an official patch as a testament to their achievement.
Flight Skills 1 is designed to test a pilot's ability to complete 3 flight courses within a 7-minute timeframe, capturing precise aerial photos with no errors.
Flight Skills 2 offers an elevated challenge, requiring pilots to complete 5 courses within a 16-minute window, again with no errors and photo documentation. These stringent standards ensure that those who pass have demonstrated true mastery of UAS operation.
Proctor Certification: Train the Trainer
To further expand the reach of these critical training standards, LEDA has developed a "Train the Trainer" course. This program certifies Flight Skills Proctors, empowering them to run and certify pilots at their own agencies or in their regions. LEDA Proctors are trained to set up, run, grade, and upload test results to LEDA's comprehensive Flight Skills Database, ensuring a standardized and efficient process across the board.
The Proctor Course is an intensive, 8-hour training offered exclusively in conjunction with our major conferences. Given the limited seating, early registration is highly recommended. A separate ticket will be available on the event's registration page and each attendee will have to ADD that ticket to their registration, along with their conference registration.
Requirements for Proctors:
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Must have passed Flight Skills 1 and Flight Skills 2 within the last six months (or pass them during the event).
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Must successfully run both Flight Skills 1 and Flight Skills 2 at least twice for other student instructors or student pilots at the conference.
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Must serve as a Flight Skills station operator for at least one hour during conference flight times.
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The credential is valid for one year from the certification date and LEDA has the option to renew the credential based upon the amount of work the proctor put in that year in testing.
This program is a vital step in expanding LEDA’s reach, allowing agencies and organizations to train their pilots locally while adhering to LEDA's critical standards.
As a note, LEDA Proctors will not be issued certificates to provide students after they test, but their passing scores/times will be uploaded to LEDA's comprehensive Flight Skills Database. If a student wants a hard copy of their certificate and official patch, they may reach out to LEDA at info@ledauas.org and request it for a small fee. Please include an accurate mailing address and LEDA will provide an invoice that can be paid by check or any major credit or debit card.
