College’s Drone Demo Showcases Program

ATLANTIC CITY – A curious-looking flying machine with four propellers lifted itself off Boardwalk Hall’s floor May 19. As officials from Atlantic Cape Community College and Atlantic City Police Department watched, the unmanned aerial vehicle, (UAV) also known as a drone, demonstrated its capabilities of going where no human could, but guided by human hands and seeing where only an electronic eye could gaze. In so doing, it also lifted the hope of Dr. Otto Hernandez, Atlantic Cape’s vice president of academic affairs, that UAVs would land an economic boost for the college and Cape May County.
Having proved what it could do, capable of reaching some 400-feet and face winds of 30 mph, the Draganflyer X4-ES, with a price tag of nearly $14,000, made a favorable impression on Deputy Police Chief William Mazur. According to a published report, he was anxious to see first-hand how the latest technology could aid in such situations as search and rescue, as in locating lost children or wandering individuals in otherwise inaccessible places.
Hernandez said “We accomplished what we wanted to do, show positive awareness of UAVs and the value they can bring to this case, law enforcement and homeland security applications.”
The demonstration also helped the college showcase its aviation program that, Hernandez envisions, will be located in Cape May County where the county airport in Erma is to be the site of testing and possibly more.
That “more” would be a place where jobs will be generated centered around drones, producing or working with them, possibly a place where budding air traffic controllers will get to work in a control tower (the airport is not a controlled field), and perhaps aviation mechanics to repair engines and other plane parts.
“We have been in conversation with Cape May County officials as well as the Delaware River and Bay Authority, (which operates the airport). Our goal is to have a real footprint down there in that airport for our entire aviation program,” Hernandez said in a telephone interview May 20.
He added that Atlantic Cape officials have had many conversations with the New Jersey Institute of Technology which is involved with state in drone testing. The airport’s location, as well as that of the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May is favored for drone testing because of proximity to the sea and clear air space that allows testing.
“I really think there is potential for the Cape May County Airport. I would like to see the UAV technology bring an industry there. It’s quite possible,” Hernandez said.
He would like to see the college’s aviation program based there. “Good things generally happen in an area where college activities take place. It does have a tendency to bring industry there,” he said.
UAV technology needs a “home” in the Garden State, and Hernandez said he believes the county airport is “ideally suited to be the home of UAV research development and manufacturing.”
While he deemed that “crucial,” Hernandez added “That is more on the elected officials to build that economic growth and opportunity” than for the college.
“Again, we have had significant conversations with the elected officials in Cape May County as well as the DRBA. Actually, looking to move it to another step and come up with some kind of memorandum of understanding to move ahead,” he said.
Hernandez said the college “Would like to deliver some of our aviation courses there.”
“There is not a lack of space (at the county airport) or a lack of interest on our part. We are very interested in working out of there,” said Hernandez.
James Taggart, Atlantic Cape’s adviser for Aviation Studies, and Tim Cwik, an adjunct professor, shared in the drone demonstration for police. Hernandez said Taggart is “heavily involved in regard to curriculum and student advising.” Cwik, a retired airline pilot, is “great to work with and highly valued” because “he goes above and beyond what we expect from a part-time position. They are both good leaders.”
Atlantic Cape commenced its introduction of unmanned aerial vehicles in January 2014, said Hernandez. Because of FAA rules, “We are still not allowed to begin operator training. Students are not allowed to fly drones.” They are taught concepts, research and future uses of drones, including what types of cameras are best suited and an overview of technology.”