DRTS Instructor Theory case studies

DRTS Instructor Theory · Put your knowledge to work in context.

The DRTS Instructor Theory credential is aimed at people who will teach drone responders rather than simply fly drones. It signals that an instructor understands the regulatory framework, operational safety, and emergency-service integration well enough to explain them to adult learners, and can design, deliver, and document training that holds up to scrutiny. The DRTS Instructor Theory case studies are 7 cases and about 4,191 words.

The Waivered Corridor and the Unforecast Gust Front

You are the lead instructor for a Part 107 training program at a regional airport. Your students hold Remote Pilot certificates and are training under a Certificate of Waiver (COA) that authorizes operations in a 1.5-nautical-mile corridor along Runway 18/36, day and civil twilight only, maximum altitude 200 ft AGL, and requires a visual observer and two-way radio contact with the tower.

725 words, about 4 min 2

Night Currency, Lighting Failure, and the Student Who Wants to Fly

You are instructing a night-operations module at a training field with a lighted helipad and a perimeter of unlit hangars. A student, Marcus, has completed three night takeoffs and landings in the previous 60 days and holds a current Remote Pilot certificate.

642 words, about 3 min 3

The Missing Hiker and the Incident Commander's Request

You are the instructor supervising a public-safety UAS team supporting a search for a missing hiker in a 3,200-acre mixed forest and meadow area. The incident commander requests that your team fly a 1.2-mile linear search along a drainage at 250 ft AGL to look for a red jacket.

611 words, about 3 min 4

The Adult Learner Who Freezes on the Checklist

You are teaching a preflight checklist module to a class of six adult learners, most of whom are career firefighters transitioning to public-safety UAS operations. One student, Dana, a 22-year fire service veteran, consistently performs the checklist correctly in discussion but freezes when asked to run it aloud in front of the class.

562 words, about 3 min 5

Documenting a Marginal Pass Under Pressure

You are the lead evaluator for a practical assessment at a training program. A candidate, Omar, has completed the flight portion with a score of 78 out of 100 against a passing threshold of 80.

543 words, about 3 min 6

The Instructor Who Is Also the Safety Officer

You are the instructor for a training flight and also serve as the program's safety officer. The flight is a multi-aircraft training exercise with three students flying simultaneously in a defined training area, each with a visual observer.

555 words, about 3 min 7

The Program Director's Scheduling Squeeze

You are the lead instructor for a UAS training program that must deliver 40 hours of instruction, 12 hours of supervised flight, and a written and practical evaluation within a 30-day cohort. The program director has scheduled 14 students into a facility with two simulators and one training aircraft, and has assigned two instructors, one of whom is available only 20 hours per week.

553 words, about 3 min