From Student to Drone Pilot at 19

Dalila Hannibal never expected to become a drone pilot.

Editorial Approach

For this story, I profiled a student who bypassed the traditional four-year track to become a licensed drone pilot and land a role at Constellation Energy by age 19. I focused the narrative on the "career-first" model, showing how specific technical certifications and faculty mentorship can move a student directly from the classroom into a high-stakes industry in a fraction of the time.

“I started CCBC as a business major because it felt like a secure choice,” she says. “But when I discovered they had a flight program, I thought, Wow, being a pilot would be really cool—even though I’d never been on a plane before!” 

After discussing switching majors with her academic advisor, Dalila dove into courses in aviation history, air traffic control, pilot training, FAA guidelines and safety, while learning how to fly airplanes safely in both normal and low-visibility conditions. 

As she delved deeper into her professional pilot - airplane degree program, her professors suggested she take two additional courses to complete the professional pilot – unmanned aircraft systems track, where she would learn to operate commercial drones. 

 “Flying an airplane was the most exciting thing I’d ever done, so I wasn’t all that interested in drones at first. But my professors kept saying, ‘The future is drones!’ and having this extra training would expand my career opportunities. I trusted them completely, and I’m glad I did.” 

Dalila gained experience flying drones on the Catonsville campus. After the first of two courses, she earned an FAA Part 107 license, required for paid drone pilots. A class video project she completed revealed how drone piloting could combine her technical skills with creativity, sealing her interest in the field. 

Thanks to her drive and preparation, career opportunities arrived sooner than she dreamed possible. 

When Constellation Energy visited campus to talk to the class, Dalila submitted her resume on a professor’s recommendation, was selected for an interview and landed a full-time job at age 19. While friends were sitting in college classrooms, she was inspecting utility poles, wind turbines and even nuclear condensers in Wyoming, Texas and Chicago. 

“Flying drones around live wires is definitely an intense way to start your career,” she says. “But CCBC prepared me for it 100%.” 

While traveling for work, she finished the drone pilot program and her business degree through CCBC’s flexible online classes. Best of all, she completed both degrees tuition-free, thanks to the College Promise scholarship. 

“Being able to go tuition-free opened a lot of doors for me,” she says. “It gave me the chance to go to college and explore what I love instead of just playing it safe.” 

Dalila credits CCBC’s faculty, hands-on training and affordability for launching her career. 

“Thanks to CCBC, I discovered my passion, built real skills and went straight into the workforce in a field I love. And that’s pretty much what it’s all about.”