Youth Aviation Club Launch at the University of Southern California

Frost Equity Initiative wrapped its Summer Aviation Club at the University of Southern California on Saturday, July 25. Twenty elementary school students earned their FAA Drone TRUST Certificate, which indicates that they have been trained to safely operate drones. In addition to drone safety, students learned the science behind flight.

Our program was taught and designed by an FAA-certified commercial drone pilot. Our founder, Ronnie Frost, was excited to launch this program as a new Civil Air Patrol member. Aviation is a STEM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) field with a huge diversity opportunity. Black pilots make up roughly 2.7% to 3.9% of commercial and airline transport pilots, while Hispanic or Latino pilots account for about 7.0% to 7.5% — underscoring the importance of programs like this one in building a more representative pipeline into aviation.

If you are in the Los Angeles or Chicago areas and are interested in launching an aviation program at your school or nonprofit, please contact us.

Parents, before purchasing a drone for your youth, please attain your FAA Trust Certificate and learn the safety rules!