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Lake Area Technical College receives FAA approval for complex drone operations

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Lake Area Technical College receives FAA approval for complex drone operations
Mike Tanner/KWAT

August 1, 2023

WATERTOWN, S.D.–Lake Area Technical College has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for the highly sought-after Beyond Visual Line of Sight Waiver.

It will enable Lake Area Tech’s Unmanned Aerial Systems Pilot program and embedded drone technology to progress to the next level of drone operation.

LATC is the only higher education system in South Dakota to have acquired this waiver, allowing students and faculty to conduct complex drone operations.

President Tiffany Sanderson of LATC stated, “It’s an honor for Lake Area Tech to receive the FAA’s approval for Beyond Visual Line of Sight drone flight. Our students in programs across campus are now able to learn to fly commercial, fixed-wing drones for applications in many industries.”