Future graduates of the Greater Latrobe School District may one day be keeping a keen eye on crop fields for farmers, properties for surveying companies or power lines for utility companies.
“There’s a high demand for drone pilots in a variety of fields,” said AJ Haberkorn, a science teacher at Greater Latrobe High School. As part of the middle school’s introductory flight and space course, Haberkorn helps guide students interested in a career path that involves operating remotely piloted devices, commonly called drones and officially designated unmanned aerial systems.
“Part of the flight component is a lesson on drones,” Haberkorn said of the elective she teaches to seventh and eighth graders. “I fly small drones indoors with my students.”
Aviation-related classes are set to begin at the high school next school year with a new “airium” curriculum developed in collaboration with the nonprofit Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. At the same time, Haberkorn hopes to expand drone experiences for middle school students.
Haberkorn expects 120 students to enroll in flight and space courses, the same as last year, and hopes to offer drone activities during wildcat time – flexible daytime hours for studying or extra instruction – to all interested students at the school.
“Students will be able to come and get some hands-on experience indoors,” he said.
Weather permitting, and adhering to flight restrictions around nearby Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, Haberkorn hopes to eventually take his students out onto school grounds with a full-sized drone.
“There’s plenty of space to fly a drone, especially in the athletic facilities behind the school,” he said.
Haberkorn currently owns two standard-sized drones: one purchased with a grant from the Greater Latrobe Partners in Education Foundation and the other given to him by the Aerium organization when he attended a summer workshop on drone instruction co-hosted by Aerium at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
The drones Aerium provides are equipped with high-performance cameras: “The remote control has a digital display and a built-in screen where you can see what the camera sees,” Haberkorn says.
He and 14 other teachers from eight area high schools participated in the workshop, led by John Benhart, a professor of regional planning at IUP, director of the university’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Certification Program and an Aerium board member.
“We estimate that the teachers who participated in the workshops teach approximately 1,750 students in a typical school year,” Benhart said. “That means 1,750 students will learn about career opportunities in aviation and the underlying science and technology of drone systems, and be put on an educational path that will lead to a career in aviation. We are making progress toward filling this critical workforce need.”
At Greater Latrobe, students taking the Aerium course learn aviation-related topics and an introduction to engineering design in ninth grade and aircraft performance and systems in 10th grade.
Now, in the second semester of their junior year, students will choose to focus on flight planning for airplane pilots or drone piloting, separate courses that continue into their senior year.
“We are proud to be at the forefront of STEM education by incorporating drone technology into our curriculum,” said Greater Latrobe Secondary Assistant Superintendent Joyn Maines. “The Aerium program, which begins with our middle school Flight and Space course, is designed to develop the next generation of aerospace innovators. Students will be able to take drone courses at the high school level beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.”
Haberkorn’s middle school courses also offer students an early introduction to aviation through sessions with flight simulator programs.
He plans to take the exams necessary to earn a professional drone pilot certificate under Federal Aviation Administration guidelines, and said the Aerium program aims to prepare students to do the same.
“What experts are looking at is getting a professional pilot certificate as an occupational micro-credential, whether that be construction, engineering, agriculture or whatever,” Haberkorn said.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering the Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mount Pleasant and Derry Area school districts and communities, including transportation issues. He’s been a journalist for more than 30 years and enjoys digging into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
