As part of the university’s commitment to the Ministry of Education’s USR mission, NPUST and its “Southern Taiwan Dreams of Flying” project team has created a new “Practical Drone Flight” course. Open for enrollment to students from all seven of the university’s colleges, the course has attracted many who share an interest in aerospace technology and smart agriculture applications. The curriculum combines theory and practice, instructing the students on domestic civil aviation regulations and professional certification acquisition. The course will enable students to obtain the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) Remote Pilot Certificate (drone operating license) by the end of the semester and help them become cross-disciplinary professionals with expert flight skills.
Professor Hudson Hsu, the director of the Smart Mechatronics Bachelor Degree Program, stated that the “Practical Drone Flight” course features a diverse curriculum centered on two main subjects: multi-rotor and fixed-wing drones. Using a multi-phase teaching approach, students progressively master the characteristics, structure, and control methods of various aircraft.
This week, the course entered a key practical phase, with students conducting outdoor flight training for fixed-wing aircraft. The “Sky Surfer” powered glider was used as the introductory training model. Under the guidance of professional instructors and coaches, students took turns operating the aircraft, personally experiencing its flight characteristics.
Through the real-world experience the course offers, students will be able to verify the academic principles they learn in the classroom, while also enhancing their applied skills and aviation safety awareness—thereby bridging the gap between theory to practice. This will lay a solid foundation for them in their future careers in related fields such as aerospace, precision agriculture, aerial surveying, and disaster monitoring.
Through the Southern Taiwan Dreams of Flying USR project, NPUST is promoting drone education to firmly establish aviation technology at a foundational level. The initiative also integrates training for diverse applications, including agricultural uses, environmental monitoring, and regional services. Ultimately, these trained students will become part of a powerful new workforce in the drone and aerospace industries in the Kaohsiung-Pingtung area, and serve as another testament to NPUST’s successful cultivation of cross-disciplinary talent with strong industry links.
