Drone Training in North Carolina

3,000+ PILOTS TRAINED AND 600+ 5-STAR REVIEWS

Book a Drone Training Class in Asheville, NC

Browse Available Dates

Here’s how it works — Choose your preferred class below to browse Pete’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.

FLIGHT SKILLS

Learn to fly a drone safely and professionally.

PHOTO & VIDEO

Learn to capture pro-level drone footage.

Additional Booking Options & Support

Book a class for 2 or more people here.
Purchase drone training as a gift here.
To pay by check, purchase order, or for other inquiries:
- Email us at training@uavcoach.com.
- Call us at (888) 626-1490.

Instructor: Pete Harris

Pete Harris flies drones to combine his passion for videography, photography and technology. A retired IT professional, he currently runs Great Heights Aerial Imaging LLC and has completed projects for real estate, roof inspection and aerial mapping. Pete is proficient in DroneDeploy and Pix4D and is also trained and certified for cell tower inspections. Weather permitting, his goal is to fly every day, and he looks forward to sharing his passion for drones with you. He can train you on his DJI Mavic Pro, Mavic 2 Pro or on any DJI drone that you bring.

Training Location

Training is held at a local field in Weaverville, about 8 miles north from downtown Asheville. Exact location provided during booking.

Book a Drone Training Class in Charlotte, NC

Browse Available Dates

Here’s how it works — Choose your preferred class below to browse J.T.’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.

FLIGHT SKILLS

Learn to fly a drone safely and professionally.

PHOTO & VIDEO

Learn to capture pro-level drone footage.

Additional Booking Options & Support

Book a class for 2 or more people here.
Purchase drone training as a gift here.
To pay by check, purchase order, or for other inquiries:
- Email us at training@uavcoach.com.
- Call us at (888) 626-1490.

Instructor: J.T. Patton

J.T. Patton owns and operates aerial services company Fly Over Drone Co. His interest began in 2021 and focused on photography and videography first, later expanding into orthomosaics, photogrammetry, roof, and solar panel inspections. J.T. enjoys flying his DJI Avata for fun and looks forward to sharing his love of drones with students, training with his DJI Air 2S, Mini 3 Pro, or any DJI drone that you bring.

Training Location

Training is held at local parks in Concord and northern Charlotte, about 10-15 miles from downtown Charlotte. Exact location provided during booking.

Book a Drone Training Class in Raleigh, NC

Browse Available Dates

Here’s how it works — Choose your preferred class below to browse Gabe’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.

FLIGHT SKILLS

Learn to fly a drone safely and professionally.

PHOTO & VIDEO

Learn to capture pro-level drone footage.

Additional Booking Options & Support

Book a class for 2 or more people here.
Purchase drone training as a gift here.
To pay by check, purchase order, or for other inquiries:
- Email us at training@uavcoach.com.
- Call us at (888) 626-1490.

Instructor: Gabe Patton

Gabe Patton is a U.S. Air Force veteran with over 20 years of service working with both manned and unmanned aircraft. After his military career, he built a High School Drone Technology program, earning recognition as the County’s Teacher of the Year. Gabe holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is an FAA-Certified Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic. As the owner of Drone Right, Gabe offers professional drone services across eastern North Carolina. His passion lies with training and teaching, as he enjoys introducing newcomers to the industry and helping them grow their skills. Gabe can train you on his Mavic Air 2S, Phantom 4 Pro, Avata 2, or any DJI drone that you bring.

Training Location

Training is held at local parks in central Raleigh and Holly Springs, about 5 to 20 miles from downtown Raleigh. Exact location provided during booking.

Book a Drone Training Class in Wilmington (Hampstead), NC

Browse Available Dates

Here’s how it works — Choose your preferred class below to browse Phil’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.

FLIGHT SKILLS

Learn to fly a drone safely and professionally.

PHOTO & VIDEO

Learn to capture pro-level drone footage.

Additional Booking Options & Support

Book a class for 2 or more people here.
Purchase drone training as a gift here.
To pay by check, purchase order, or for other inquiries:
- Email us at training@uavcoach.com.
- Call us at (888) 626-1490.

Instructor: Phil Work

Phil Work hails from Chicago and has been flying since the early 1970s. Now retired as both a Navy pilot and a FedEx commercial pilot, he still flies a Cessna Cardinal for business and pleasure and has logged over 11,500 hours total flight time. Phil became interested in drone flying and photography in 2017 and started Topsail Aerial Imaging, based in southeast North Carolina. He joined UAV Coach to share his love of all things flying with others. He can train you on his DJI Phantom 4 Pro or Spark or on any DJI drone that you bring.

Training Location

Training is held at airfields in Holly Ridge and Hampstead, roughly 20 to 30 miles east of downtown Wilmington. Exact location provided during booking.

3,000+ PILOTS TRAINED, CUSTOMERS RATE 4.9 OUT OF 5 STARS

Pete is a very low key individual who senses your skill level and works to improve from the starting point. Pete is very knowledgeable and encouraging. He’s offered to answer any questions and act as a resource post session. I would not hesitate to take him up on his offer if need be. I can tell developing a proficient skill level takes a great deal of air time. It was a great experience. You are fortunate to have him on your team.

Jed G

I had a very great time with Pete Harris! His teaching was very easy to follow and his instructions and guidance were clear. He made sure you get the hang of flying while making sure he answers all your questions!

Zion M

It was good for me to get over the initial battle of nerves and getting my drone in the air. The instructor Phil was very good at getting me started and I very much enjoyed the class! It was fun and the learning curve is pretty steep but I’m now flying whenever it’s not raining. I definitely want to move forward with the next step but need to become comfortable with flying 1st. As I am a photographer that aspect of this is very exciting. Thank you!

Dwain R

Frequently Asked

Questions

Can I book a group of 4 or more?

Yes — we’re happy to chat with your group about training options. Email training@uavcoach.com or call us at (888) 626-1490

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 the best 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 the FAADroneZone 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 our FAA 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.

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-leading Part 107 online test prep and training course.

Can I buy a class for someone as a gift?

Absolutely! Click here to learn more.

What's the difference between Flight Skills and Photo & Video hands-on training?

Flight Skills: Great for beginners. Learn safe, professional drone flying—covering pre-flight checklists, in-air emergencies, and core flight skills to build confidence.

Photo & Video: Great for those with basic flight skills. Learn how to capture high-quality drone shots, from camera settings and ND filters to cinematic movements.

Can I bring a friend, colleague, or family member with me?

Yes! A shared experience with a friend or family member is a great way to learn together and have fun. Our instructors will tailor the experience for your group. You can purchase a group session of 2 people for $485 for 2.5 hours (save $52 per person!) or a group session of 3 people for $575 for 3 hours (save $103 per person!)

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?

Our students come from a wide variety of backgrounds 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?

Your flight training is 100% refundable if you cancel at least 3 days before your training date.

training is TAILORED TO YOUR
SKILL LEVEL AND GOALS

DURING A TYPICAL session YOU WILL:

Meet with an expert and friendly instructor in a convenient outdoor location, like a park or athletic field
Learn on a popular DJI drone model provided by the instructor
Have 45-60 minutes of hands-on flying time to master orientation and basic flight maneuvers to build confidence (Flight Skills) or learn how to capture high-quality drone shots, from camera settings and ND filters to cinematic movements (Photo & Video)
Walk through the DJI Go 4 or DJI Fly app
Learn how to handle obstacles such as lost GPS, low battery charge or emergencies
Practice flying under various intelligent flight modes
Capture photo and video at your flight location
Understand best practices of being a safe drone pilot
Ask questions about regulations, software, flight operations management, and more
Sign up with a friend, colleague, or family member to share the experience. Learn together. Have fun together. Save money together!

Does your team need hands-on drone training?

We work with companies and organizations

An engineering team of four from Amgen needed to survey vertical structures. We set up a custom drone training with one of our Los Angeles instructors.

Southeastern Building Corporation wanted to use drones to capture aerial images of their residential and commercial construction projects. Our Nashville drone instructor trained two of their employees.

The Rutherford County GIS Department needed to survey land and infrastructure for things like development projects and flood zones. Our Nashville instructor trained three of their team members.

Fort Valley State University wanted to train 10 graduate students in their Engineering Technology Department to conduct research projects with their DJI Phantom. We built a half-day custom training with two instructors and two drones.

PRICING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS

$ 295

2 hours

$ 485

2.5 hours

$ 575

3 hours

Bring a friend, colleague, or family member to share the experience.
Sign up and save together!

Flying Your Drone In North Carolina

Before your training class, it might be helpful to familiarize yourself with the drone laws in North Carolina.

If you are flying a drone for fun, you are considered a ‘recreational’ pilot and should be following the Recreational Flyers & Modeler Community-Based Organizations rules. You’ll need to complete The 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 a drone in Charlotte and Raleigh. 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.