November 5, 2014

Medicine Hat College (MHC) will be utilizing a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) to present the Rattlers first match at the CCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship on November 5, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. This leading-edge technology will provide a new perspective to the game.

“It’s an opportunity to add something new and fresh to our sports coverage. We’re hoping this becomes a best practice that other institutions can use when presenting sporting games,” says Mark Keller, director of college advancement.

The RPAS is a DJI Phantom 2 Vision Plus, quad copter that weighs 1.16 kilograms.

Keller explains that in the weeks leading up to the championship, staff at MHC completed a course with the Canadian Center for Unnamed Vehicle Systems (CCUVS), a Medicine Hat-based company, and received a Special Flight Operations Certificate from Transport Canada.

“This is a first for the college, we have ensured that we are doing everything legally as well as safely and are learning a lot about this technology; we are hoping to continue to partner with CCUVS,” says Keller.

When asked if the RPAS would be utilized by the college in the future, Keller explains that they see many applications where the RPAS could create learning and business opportunities.

Photos and live footage from the RPAS will be integrated into the championship coverage.

To see the RPAS in action come watch the MHC Rattlers women’s soccer team play against the Vancouver Island University Mariners at the Methanex Bowl at 5:30 p.m. The full schedule and results can viewed online at: www.ccaa.ca.