Drone Training in North Carolina
FAA Certified Flight Instructors bring Part 107 preparation and applied drone training to your site, from the Outer Banks to the Blue Ridge.
Drone University Courses
5.00 (20K+ Joined)
FAA Part 107 Training
Prepare yourself for the FAA Part 107 Knowledge Test. Learn to fly, how to understand industry-standard flight systems, and most importantly, safe and legal flying practices. If you do not pass the FAA Part 107 exam after completing our training, we will either refund your training fee or retrain you at no additional cost.
DJI Mini 4K included!
Duration
$2,500
4.79 (5.4K Joined)
Advanced Aerial Inspections and Cinematography
This one-day course teaches you advanced aerial photography and videography. All classes are taught by working professionals. Learn what it takes to get great shots for clients like Discovery Channel and National Geographic.
Duration
$1,000
4.96 (2.6K Joined)
This one-day course teaches you all about GIS. You will learn everything you need to successfully collect usable data on your flights. We’ll guide you through planning and flying successful operations, programing flight patterns.
Duration
$1,000
4.87 (1.6K+ Joined)
Drones in Agriculture
Join Drone Universities’ one-day Drones in Agriculture course. Learn precision flights, multispectral imaging, and field methodology to boost crop yield. Sign up now!
Duration
$1,000
4.82 (2.6K Joined)
Drones for Public Safety and Transportation
Learn to use drones for infrastructure inspection and planning. Our one-day course improves public safety and transportation by saving time, money, and resources.
Duration
$1,000
Drone Training Built for North Carolina Conditions
North Carolina packs a broad mix of flying environments into one state. A pilot might start the week mapping a subdivision near Charlotte, inspect a solar site in the Piedmont midweek and finish with coastal survey work near Wilmington. Mountain terrain in the west, sea breezes on the coast and quickly building summer storms all change how a flight should be planned.
Drone Universities teaches the FAA Part 107 knowledge areas together with the practical habits that matter on real jobs: checklists, airspace authorizations, risk assessment and clear crew roles. Training takes place at your location, so your team learns on the ground where it will actually work.
Courses are available for individual pilots, small businesses and larger organizations. Whether you are preparing for the knowledge test for the first time or building a drone program for a department, the instructor adjusts the pace and the flight exercises to your group’s experience and goals.
Why Train with Drone Universities in North Carolina
In-person training since 2014
Drone Universities was founded in 2014 and has focused on instructor-led, hands-on courses from the start.
Nationwide reach
Our instructors travel to all 50 states, which lets North Carolina organizations train without sending staff out of state.
Instructors with aviation backgrounds
FAA Certified Flight Instructors teach charts, weather and airspace with the discipline used in manned aviation.
Scenario-based practice
Exercises can mirror your work, whether that is roof inspection, crop scouting, search support or marketing imagery.
Clear scheduling
Share your preferred dates and location, and we will coordinate the course details with your team.
Cities We Serve in North Carolina
We regularly plan training across the state, including:
Charlotte
Charlotte and the wider Mecklenburg region, where many sites fall within the Charlotte Class B airspace.
Raleigh-Durham
The Triangle, including Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, around the Class C airspace of Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Greensboro
The Piedmont Triad, including Winston-Salem and High Point, near Piedmont Triad International Airport.
Asheville
Western North Carolina, where mountain terrain and the Class C airspace of Asheville Regional Airport shape flight planning.
Wilmington
The southeastern coast, including New Hanover County and nearby beach communities.
Working somewhere else in the state? Get in touch and we will travel to you. Request a course location »
North Carolina Industries Using Drones
- Construction and real estate. Growing metro areas use drones for site progress records, topographic mapping and property marketing.
- Agriculture. Growers use aerial imagery to scout fields, check drainage and plan treatments for tobacco, sweet potatoes, cotton and other crops.
- Energy and utilities. Utility and solar operators rely on drones for line patrol, panel inspection and storm damage assessment.
- Research and technology. Universities and technology companies in the Research Triangle use drones for data collection, testing and education.
- Public safety. Fire, rescue and emergency management agencies use drones for hurricane response, flood assessment and search support.
- Coastal and environmental work. Shoreline monitoring, erosion surveys and habitat studies along the coast benefit from repeatable aerial imagery.
Course scenarios can be tailored to any of these fields, so the skills your team practices carry straight into its daily operations.
North Carolina Airspace and Flying Notes
- State UAS permit no longer required. North Carolina previously required commercial and government drone operators to hold a state permit from the NCDOT Division of Aviation. NCDOT states that this requirement ended on December 1, 2024. Commercial operators now follow federal rules, principally FAA Part 107.
- Charlotte Class B airspace. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is the primary airport of the Charlotte Class B airspace. Part 107 flights in controlled airspace require FAA authorization, typically requested through LAANC or FAA DroneZone.
- Class C and Class D airports. Raleigh-Durham International, Piedmont Triad International and Asheville Regional are each surrounded by Class C airspace, and Wilmington’s airport has Class D airspace. Authorization is required in these areas as well.
- Blue Ridge Parkway. The parkway is administered by the National Park Service. Launching, landing or operating a drone from or on NPS lands and waters within its boundaries is prohibited.
- State parks and state property. North Carolina State Parks prohibit taking off or landing drones on park property, except in limited circumstances under a Special Use Permit from the park. State law also prohibits launching or recovering an unmanned aircraft from state property without consent.
Rules can change without much notice. Before each flight, confirm current FAA, state and local requirements and obtain permission from the landowner.
How a North Carolina Course Comes Together
- Tell us what you need. Complete the request form or call us with your goals, the number of trainees and your preferred dates.
- Agree on the details. We recommend a course, assign an instructor and confirm a site that works for classroom sessions and permitted flight practice.
- Learn where you work. The instructor delivers the lesson plan on site and supervises practical flying with your own team.
Schedule Drone Training in North Carolina
Whether your team works in the Triangle, the mountains or on the coast, our instructors will come to your location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a North Carolina state drone permit?
Not any longer. NCDOT states that after December 1, 2024, North Carolina no longer requires commercial and government drone operators to obtain a state permit. You still need to follow FAA rules, including Part 107 certification for commercial work.
Can I fly a drone in Charlotte?
Yes, with planning. Much of the city lies under the Class B airspace around Charlotte Douglas International Airport, so many locations require FAA authorization before flight. Approved altitudes vary by location.
Can I fly on the Blue Ridge Parkway?
No. The National Park Service prohibits launching, landing or operating drones from or on NPS-administered lands and waters within the parkway. Mountain flights should be planned from other property with the owner’s permission, after checking airspace.
Where are classes held?
We come to you anywhere in North Carolina, including offices, job sites, farms, campuses and training grounds. We will review site requirements with you when you request training.
How do I get started?
Send a training request or call 1.818.255.0406 to discuss courses, group size and dates.
