Drone Training in California
1,000+ PILOTS TRAINED, CUSTOMERS RATE 4.9 OUT OF 5 STARS
We had a great time. It was my first time flying a drone and I can see why people like to fly them. Even flying without a purpose was fun.Jim was great.Explanation was good andI think we all had a good understanding of how to operate a drone when the class was finished.I enjoyed the class. The instructor was excellent! I learned a lot.
Clinton T
The class was Amazing!! I had so much fun learning.Steven is a great instructor, easy to comprehend, great attitude.Just a great and fun experience all around.
Iris H
My experience with Roger was great.This was my first time flying a drone and he was patient and very clear in his instructions.He exceeded my expectations.Although there is so much to learn I did not feel as nervous as I thought I would due to his calming demeanor.
Marjorie J
Instructor: Jim Brammer
Jim Brammer is CEO, chief pilot and photographer at Soaring Vistas Media, a drone services company in Los Angeles, California. In addition to being sought after for his skills and experience in professional photography, videography, and post-production, Jim is also a highly skilled drone pilot and instructor. As a UAV Coach instructor, Jim’s primary focus is on the safe, ethical and professional operation of drones. He can train you on his Autel Evo II Pro v2, DJI Mavic Pro, Phantom 3 Pro or on any DJI drone that you bring.
Training Locations
Browse Available Dates
Here’s how it works— Use the buttons below to browse Jim’s availability and to select a date and time for your training. We’ll ask some additional questions and will then follow-up with you to confirm that your class has been booked.
Instructor: Jim Goede
Jim Goede is a member of the Civil Air Patrol/USAF Auxiliary, actively involved in scaling the use of sUAS in the Civil Air Patrol’s California Wing. He runs aerial imaging company Goede Digital Media, providing aerial services for real estate, insurance, construction and utilities companies. A former high-tech product manager, he has a degree in graphic design, and is a passionate advocate for the sUAS industry. He can train you on his DJI Phantom 4 Pro or on any DJI drone that you bring.
Training Locations
Browse Available Dates
Here’s how it works— Use the buttons below to browse Jim’s availability and to select a date and time for your training. We’ll ask some additional questions and will then follow-up with you to confirm that your class has been booked.
Instructor: Steve Lewis
Steve Lewis runs aerial imaging company Drone Fly, providing real estate photography, solar surveys (both commercial and residential) and roof inspections. A winner of a 2020 People’s Telly Silver award for his drone cinematography work at The Hermosa Beach Volleyball Tournament, Steve also has experience inspecting transmission and distribution power lines flying a variety of Matrice model drones. He is very passionate about sharing his love of drones and his industry knowledge with others and can train you on his Autel Evo II Pro, DJI Mavic 2 Pro or on any DJI drone that you bring.
Training Location
Browse Available Dates
Here’s how it works— Use the buttons below to browse Steve’s availability and to select a date and time for your training. We’ll ask some additional questions and will then follow-up with you to confirm that your class has been booked.
Instructor: Roger Apolinar
罗杰Apolinar动态航拍图像和Drone Production Professor at The Academy of Arts University and the aerial cinematographer to the San Francisco Giants. His aerial service company, APEX^ZERO, focuses on Part 107 Training, pre-flight mission planning & coordination, and aerial imagery. Roger’s passion is cinematic storytelling and building confident and competent sUAS operators. He can train you on his Mavic Pro or on any DJI drone that you bring.
Training Location
Browse Available Dates
Here’s how it works— Use the buttons below to browse Roger’s availability and to select a date and time for your training. We’ll ask some additional questions and will then follow-up with you to confirm that your class has been booked.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Can I book a group of 4 or more?
Yes — we’re happy to chat with your group about training options. Emailtraining@www.simmtp.comor call us at(888) 626-9052
What kind of drone will I get to fly?
Our coaches train with DJI equipment — you’ll be flying either a DJI Mavic, DJI Phantom, or DJI Inspire model. If you have questions about thebest professional drone models, we’re happy to help.
Can I bring my own drone?
Yes — many of our students prefer to fly with their own equipment. We’ll ask you to make sure that your firmware is up-to-date, to fully charge your transmitter, phone/tablet and to bring extra batteries. We’ll also ask that you’ve registered your drone through theFAADroneZone portal.
Do I need to be FAA Part 107 certified?
No — our instructors are certified and insured under our company policy, so you don’t have to be. If you’re interested in becoming a certified drone pilot, check out ourFAA certification guide. We’d love to help you study!
What about inclement weather?
We won’t make you fly in the rain! We’ll work with you and your local flight instructor to reschedule.
Are you insured?
Yes — we hold an insurance policy that covers up to $1 million in liability during the course of your training class. If you bring your own drone to the training, while we would not insure any damage to the drone itself, our liability policy still covers you.
Is this training class right for me?
我们的学生来自各种各样的使用ds and industries. If you’re looking to go deep into the DJI Go 4 or DJI Fly app, explore intelligent flight modes and fail-safe settings and to really understand what to do before, during, and after your flight to not only fly safely but to comply with the regulations, then yes, we’d love to see you book time with us.
What's your cancellation policy?
Is this a test prep class for the FAA Part 107 drone exam?
No — this is a hands-on drone flight class. If you want to get FAA-certified, check out our industry-leadingPart 107 online test prep and training course.
Can I buy a class for someone as a gift?
Absolutely! Please emailtraining@www.simmtp.comor call us at(888) 626-9052
training is TAILORED TO YOUR
SKILL LEVEL AND GOALS
DURING A TYPICAL session YOU WILL:
- Meet with an expert and friendly instructorin a convenient outdoor location, like a park or athletic field
- Learn on a popular DJI drone modelprovided by the instructor
- Have 30-45 minutes of hands-on flying timeto master orientation, basic flight maneuvers and more advanced flight skills
- Walk throughthe DJI Go 4 or DJI Fly app
- Learn how to handle obstaclessuch as lost GPS, low battery charge or emergencies
- Practice flyingunder various intelligent flight modes
- Capture photo and videoat your flight location
- Understand best practices成为一个safe drone pilot
- Ask questionsabout regulations, software, flight operations management, and more
Does your team need hands-on drone training?
We work with companies and organizations
An engineering team of four fromAmgenneeded tosurvey vertical structures. We set up a custom drone training with one of our Los Angeles instructors.
Southeastern Building Corporationwanted to use drones tocapture aerial images of their residential and commercial construction projects. Our Nashville drone instructor trained two of their employees.
TheRutherford County GIS Departmentneeded tosurvey land and infrastructure for things like development projects and flood zones. Our Nashville instructor trained three of their team members.
Fort Valley State Universitywanted to train 10 graduate students in their Engineering Technology Department toconduct research projects with their DJI Phantom. We built a half-day custom training with two instructors and two drones.
1,000+ PILOTS TRAINED, CUSTOMERS RATE 4.9 OUT OF 5 STARS
Great experience with Coach Roger.He listened to my concerns, understood my level of experience and uncertainty, gave me the advice and practice drills to improve my skills, and made sure to answer all my questions.I came away feeling more confident and ready to accelerate my pilot skills.
Fred A
I did have fun and learned a lot about drones.Jim is very knowledgeableand has the ability to teach and make the instructions easy to learn.
Juliana B
Great. We talked before the session and he asked me why I wanted the training and what I expected.Steve prepared me for everything I wanted and more.He gave me a solid foundation and helped me plan a course to continue developing. He covered areas I had not yet considered and gave me more confidence that I will succeed in a new career.
Stephen G
PRICING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS
1 PERSON
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2 hours
GROUP OF 2
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2.5 hours
GROUP OF 3
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3 hours
Flying Your Drone In California
Before your training class, it might be helpful to familiarize yourself with thedrone laws in California.
If you are flying a drone for fun, you are considered a ‘recreational’ pilot and should be following theRecreational Flyers & Modeler Community-Based Organizations rules. You’ll need to completeThe Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), register your drone, and understand where you can and cannot fly.
If you are flying a drone for ‘commercial’ purposes, you’ll need to get your FAA drone pilot certificate. This takes about 15-20 hours of studying and requires you to pass a 60-question multiple-choice exam.Here’s more information about how to get your drone pilot license.
And for fun, here’s a list of the best places to fly your drone inLos Angeles,Sacramento,San Bernardino,San Diego,San Francisco, andSan Jose. Blue skies and safe flying out there!
Drone Flight Training
At a Glance
Training Sessions from 2-3 Hrs
Individual or small group sessions typically start at 2 hours and go up to 3 hours with a larger group — this lets each student get plenty of hands-on 'stick time.'
FAA-Certified Part 107 Pilots
Our instructors are professional, experienced and friendly. All are FAA-certified as Remote Pilots and many have military and commercial aviation experience.
Flight Ops & Intelligent Flight Modes
Take your knowledge to the next level with flight operations apps, pre-flight and post-flight checklists, intelligent flight modes and more.
DJI Equipment & Software
We use popular DJI models to teach you the ins and outs of both the drone hardware and the flight software — transferable knowledge if you're already flying or plan to fly a DJI system.
Multirotor Flight Proficiency
Gain confidence, learn how to handle emergencies and feel in control of the drone. Practice flying both basic and advanced maneuvers.
Regulatory Compliance & Safety
Learn the rules about where and when you’re allowed to fly and stay smart, safe and compliant.