About Southern Drone Academy
Real-World Drone Training Built on Real-World Experience
Southern Drone Academy was founded to bridge the gap between passing the FAA Part 107 Knowledge Test and becoming a confident, successful drone pilot.
Our mission is simple: provide practical, affordable, and professional drone education that prepares students not only to earn their FAA Remote Pilot Certificate, but to safely and confidently apply drone technology in the real world.
Whether your goal is to start a drone business, advance your career, or simply learn more about unmanned aircraft systems, Southern Drone Academy is committed to helping you succeed every step of the way.
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Meet the Founder: DeMarius Simmons Founder & Lead Instructor
DeMarius Simmons is a U.S. Army veteran, FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot, GIS professional, and drone consultant with more than 20 years of experience in unmanned aircraft systems, geospatial intelligence, and commercial drone operations. He has supported military, government, commercial, and forestry organizations while contributing to 2,000+ UAS missions and accumulating 1,000+ commercial flight hours.
Today, through Southern Drone Academy, his mission is to help aspiring drone pilots earn their FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and develop the real-world knowledge and skills needed to build successful careers in the drone industry.
Why Southern Drone Academy?
There are plenty of courses that teach you how to pass a test.
Southern Drone Academy teaches you how to become a drone professional.
Every course is built around real-world experience gained through military operations, commercial drone services, GIS, remote sensing, aerial mapping, inspections, forestry, agriculture, and business ownership. Students learn not only what the FAA expects, but also how drones are actually used every day across multiple industries.
Our goal isn't simply to help you earn a certificate.
Our goal is to help you build a career.
What Makes Us Different?
✔ Over 20 years of drone, GIS, and geospatial experience
✔ FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot
✔ More than 1,000 commercial drone flight hours
✔ Supported 2,000+ military aerial ISR/UAS missions
✔ Experience across commercial, government, military, forestry, agriculture, mapping, inspections, and infrastructure industries
✔ Professional experience with RGB, Thermal, Multispectral, Hyperspectral, LiDAR, SAR, EO/IR, FMV, and other advanced sensor technologies
✔ Expertise in GIS, photogrammetry, orthomosaics, remote sensing, AI-assisted analytics, and aerial mapping
✔ Real-world business ownership experience through Southern Drone Company
✔ Practical instruction focused on helping students build confidence—not just memorize answers
Contact Us
Southern Drone Academy
Email: support@southerndroneacademy.com
Phone: 770.548.3559
Website: www.southerndroneacademy.com
Based in Douglasville, Georgia, Southern Drone Academy proudly provides online drone education to students across the United States.
"The FAA certificate is your license to fly. The knowledge and experience you gain afterward is what builds your career."
— DeMarius Simmons, Founder & Lead Instructor
Hours
Open today | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm |
