Steve Wininger Email & Phone Number

I began my UAS career by working for a small start up focused on serving the DOD sector. Starting out as an Electrical Technician, I quickly learned how to build, troubleshoot, and repair the electronic components and wire harnesses of small unmanned aircraft and support equipment. When Prioria sought to add an additional pilot I made the pitch, “What is better than a pilot that can also conduct virtually any field repair required?” and with that my flight training began. I spent the next 5 years conducting demos for some of the most elite war fighters on the planet, developing and conducting training, and testing new aircraft as an R&D test pilot. In 2017, I was offered a position at Freeport-McMoRan and an opportunity to change directions and help bring drones to the mining industry. I am currently employed by Freeport-McMoRan as the Corporate Lead UAS Pilot/Instructor. As the first UAS pilot hired by Freeport, over the last 5 years I have been tasked with building their UAS Program from the ground up. I began by finding uses cases, acquiring and testing UAS for those use cases and once proven, developing the CONOP, SOP, training, and operations manuals. In tandem, a structure for a program that includes operational sites around the world had to be built. Miners were to be turned into UAS pilots, training was standardized, and a framework for organizing the FMI drone program was created. Today, FMI’s program consists of over 100 pilots throughout our North and South American sites, and the program continues to grow in size and skill. I have also successfully written waiver applications granting Freeport the ability to fly up to 1100’ AGL at all of our active North American sites. This has been a huge step forward for our program and I am continuously exploring options with the FAA to expand operational limitations.

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  Santa Fe College

  3.73