A Several Thousand Mile Journey

We all have unique stories of what it took to become a commercial drone pilot. From learning how not to crash a drone to decoding the mysteries of sectional charts, there are obstacles we all must overcome.

In one way or another, we find the path forward and achieve our initial goal of earning a Part 107 license. While everyone is worthy of recognition for this accomplishment, this month, we would like to highlight the story of one member of the Altitude University community, Clayton Lam Yuen.

We were thrilled to find out Clayton recently passed his Part 107 exam. Even more incredible was that he had to fly five hours to the nearest testing center!

Clayton lives in American Samoa. This collection of 7 tropical islands in the Pacific is about 2,200 miles from the nearest testing facility in Hawaii. The tropical paradise doesn't have many flight options, as Clayton points out. "For our island, only one airline flies here (Hawaiian Air) and only twice a week."

As a graphic designer, Clayton works for one of the two telecommunications companies in American Samoa. His work has him designing a range of products, including graphics, artworks, billboards, flyers, video content, and printed materials. With his hands on so many different marketing materials, he thought drone footage was a no-brainer. His employer agreed and even decided to pay for his flight to the testing center. While getting the flight paid for was incredible, Clayton knew it meant he had to pass the test.

Given the travel distance and support from his employer, Clayton wanted to ensure he was ready for the exam, and that was when he learned about Altitude University. Clayton recalls, "When I YouTubed 'drone certification' that's where I came upon Altitude University. After doing my research and reading reviews, it stuck out like a sore thumb that Altitude University was the obvious choice."

After completing Altitude University’s Part 107 test prep course, Clayton was ready for his flight to Hawaii. "The day came, and I flew out. The flight left American Samoa late at night, and I landed in Hawaii at 4 am. My exam was at 8 am. I used my 5-hour flight to study my material," says Clayton.

As you may have guessed, Clayton passed! He is now a licensed commercial drone pilot. His final thoughts on this part of his journey are, "It took me about two weeks of studying, thousands of travel miles, and it was all worth it. I can confidently say I wouldn't have been able to do it without Altitude University." 

We are so happy for you, Clayton, and wish you the best in all your future endeavors. Don't forget that all our courses come with lifetime access to the material and the community. Happy and safe flying!

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Article Written by David Daly