A drone's-eye view of Westlake High School. The school district recently received notice of approved FAA-Recognized Identification Areas , which are defined geographic zones where drones can be flown without remote ID equipment.WESTLAKE, Ohio --- Students participating in Westlake High School’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Drone Technology class will be able to operate drones as part of their curriculum, thanks to approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Regulations mandate that both the drone and pilot be located within the FRIA’s boundaries throughout operation. Additionally, the drone pilot must be able to see the device at all times while it is in operation. Westlake High School is the first educational institution in Cuyahoga County to receive approval for a FRIA designation. There are eight other approved educational FRIAs in Ohio.
Scott Kutz, a teacher in Westlake High School’s technology and engineering department, explained that approval was a detailed process. The district submitted four amendments to its application and waited more than four weeks before receiving acceptance.