PODCAST · leisure
Ask Drone U
by Drone U
We’re Drone U, a group of guys who have turned their passion for flight into a profitable business. We love hearing from our fans, and we love helping by answering their questions. That’s why we started the Ask Drone U podcast in 2015. Since then, we are one of the largest, most popular DAILY drone podcasts out there. Each episode features an actual question submitted from someone just like you! We wish we could answer everyone’s question(s), but we’ll do our best to get through as many of them as we can. So plug in those headphones because it’s time to learn together about everything drone: FAA, insurance, business strategies, videography, drone tips, flight techniques, drone tricks, expert advice, cameras, gimbals, and so much more. #askdroneu
Episodes
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ADU 1410: Why Taranis Isn’t Spraying Crops | The Real Business Model
Land High-Volume Ag Drone Jobs: How Taranis Flies 50,000 Acres a Day In this episode of Ask Drone U, Paul sits down with Phil Franklin from Taranis to explore how the company maps thousands of agricultural acres daily across the United States. Learn how Taranis partners with Drone Service…
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ADU 1408: Are You a Pro Pilot? Here’s How to Measure Proficiency
Online Knowledge Assessments vs. In-Field Operational Testing for Enterprise Drone Programs In this episode of Ask Drone U, Paul and Rob address how enterprise programs and business owners can accurately evaluate a drone pilot's true skill and proficiency beyond basic certification. They break…
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ADU 1409: Drone Battery Myths Exposed – Interview with Patrick from Colorado Drone Chargers
Simultaneous Quad-Charging, Battery Longevity, and Safety Secrets with Colorado Drone Chargers In this episode of Ask Drone U, Paul is joined by Patrick from Colorado Drone Chargers to dive deep into drone battery management, fire safety, and operational ROI. Discover how simultaneous multi-quad...
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ADU 1407: How to Stand Out & Beat Established Drone Competitors
Winning Strategies for Landing Clients in a Competitive Market In this episode of Ask Drone U, hosts Paul and Rob answer a question from listener Reuben about how a new drone pilot can differentiate themselves from established competitors who have newer equipment and more experience. The hosts...
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ADU 1406: How to Measure Construction Drone Program Success | ROI Beyond Flight Hours
Stop Tracking Vanity Metrics: How Schedule Adherence, Rework Reduction, and Rapid Communication Drive Real Business Value In this episode of Ask Drone U Enterprise, Paul and Rob dive into one of the most critical questions facing construction drone program managers: How do you accurately measure...
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ADU 1405: How to Measure the Real ROI of Your Enterprise Drone Program
Moving Beyond Fluff Metrics to Operational Efficiency, Downtime Avoidance, and Field Adoption In this episode of Ask Drone U, Paul and Rob break down how enterprise organizations and former Drone Service Providers (DSPs) can accurately measure the success of an internal drone program. Instead of...
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ADU 1404: Why Enterprise Drone Programs Are Ditching Drone Mapping
Are You Wasting Money on Drone Mapping? What Enterprises Know In this episode of Ask Drone U, Paul and Rob examine a major shift occurring across large-scale enterprise drone programs: the decline of routine drone mapping. They discuss why utility companies and infrastructure organizations are...
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ADU 1403: Should Your Enterprise Drone Program Require Part 107 for Part 108 Operations?
Part 107 vs Part 108: Why Enterprise Drone Programs Still Need Certified Pilots In this episode of Ask Drone U, Paul and Rob tackle a crucial question facing enterprise drone program managers: Should your organization still require pilots to hold a Part 107 certification when operating under...
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ADU 1402: Rapid Fire Q&A – Drone Mapping Laws, BVLOS Affordability, & Future Tech
Navigating Legal Precedents, Ag Tech Beyond Spraying, and Budget Software Stacks In this rapid-fire community Q&A episode of Ask Drone U, Paul and Rob tackle pressing questions straight from commercial drone pilots. The hosts examine complex regulatory issues—including state-level land surveying...
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ADU 1401: Are AeroPoints Worth It? Propeller Costs vs. Drone RTK Alternatives
Navigating Ground Control Points, Propeller Subscriptions, and Cost-Effective RTK Workflows In this episode of Ask Drone U, hosts Paul and Rob address a question from listener Rick G regarding steep Propeller platform fees for AeroPoints. Paul breaks down whether AeroPoints can be used...
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ADU 1400: The Future of Commercial Drones? What We Saw at Commercial UAV Expo 2026
The Biggest Drone Tech Trends We Saw at Commercial UAV Expo 2026 What’s actually changing in the commercial drone industry—and which new technologies are worth paying attention to? In this episode of Ask Drone U, Paul shares his firsthand takeaways from the 2026 Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas,...
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ADU 1399: NDAA Compliance – Are Expensive American Drones Actually Better?
Buying Drones in 2026: Is the NDAA Premium Worth It? In this episode of Ask Drone U, Paul and Rob address a critical question from listener Ken : Would commercial drone operators actually switch to NDAA-compliant, Blue List American drones if performance matched DJI, even at 5x the cost? They…
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ADU 1397: Why Drone Pilots Should Stop Selling Hours and Start Selling Outcomes
Why Drone Pilots Should Stop Selling Hours and Start Selling Outcomes Complex thermal deliverables are getting killed by simpler ones. If you inspect buildings with a drone, this episode shows why the smartest workflow may be a PDF, a screen-share video, and zero fancy modeling.Paul and Rob break...
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ADU 1398: Beyond Flying – The Non-Flying Skills Every Drone Business Needs
Why Being the Best Drone Pilot Is No Longer Enough In this episode of Ask Drone U, Paul and Rob answer a question from Gabe at Hawaii Pacific Drone Solutions regarding whether competitive advantage in the drone industry is shifting from piloting skill to solving client business problems. They...
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ADU 1396: Why Most Drone Pilots Fail at Sales – and What to Do Instead
Why Most Drone Pilots Fail at Sales - and What to Do Instead On today's episode, Paul and Rob tackle one of the toughest challenges for many drone business owners: sales. Our question for today is how a non-salesperson can actually start getting clients, and hold a conversation goes deeper than...
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ADU 1395: Why the FCC Drone Ban Could Ground More Than You Think
Why the FCC Drone Ban Could Ground More Than You Think The FCC may be laying the groundwork for a drone ban that goes far beyond DJI and if you fly drones for business, this could change your entire operating model. We break down what the proposal really says, why the definition of "military…
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ADU 1394: How American Drones Are more relevant for the Drone Industry’s Future and Why It Matters
How American drones are transforming in drone industry As regulations tighten and supply chains strain, American-made drones are stepping into the spotlight, promising new levels of safety, reliability, and profitability. It is now more important than ever to position yourself to capitalize this...
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EDL 019: Turning Passion to Profession: Running successful drone business in Hawaii, with Gabe Hanohano
In this episode, Gabe Hanohano takes us on his inspiring journey of building a successful drone business in Hawaii. Starting with a deep-rooted passion for photography and technology, Gabe navigates the intricate world of drones, sharing the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial path. He...
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EDL 018: Revolutionizing Drone Services with RAAD’s Innovative Approach to Drone Piloting – A Conversation with Teej Ragsdale
In this episode of Elevating Drone Life, host Rob Burdick sits down with Teej Ragsdale, the visionary co-founder and CEO of RAAD, an innovative aerial intelligence network. Teej's journey from finance and crypto to renewable energy has uniquely positioned him to tackle the challenges in the drone...
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ADU 1393: The Broader Implications of the FCC’s Drone Regulations and how to navigate them
Navigating the FCC ban on DJI: What it means to pilots In this episode of ADU, we delve into the intricate details of the recent FCC ban on DJI. This episode unpacks the multifaceted implications of the ban, which is part of a broader national security initiative aimed at addressing potential...
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EDL 017: The Future of drones in Golf course management – A Conversation with Graeme Heinrich
In this captivating episode of "Elevating Drone Life," we journey with Graeme Heinrich, a seasoned expert in the drone industry, as he shares his remarkable transition from traditional golf course management to the innovative world of drone technology. With over 23 years of experience in...
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ADU 1392: Exploring Drone Security: Opportunities and Challenges
Drone Security: Opportunities and Challenges Don't miss out on our exclusive Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals at Drone U Black Friday Deals page! Whether you're flying for fun or profit, now's the time to elevate your skills with our top-notch courses. Our episode today is brought to you by...
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ADU 1391: The Future of Drones: New Drones, Opportunities and Challenges
How should pilots navigate the ever evolving drone industry? Don't miss out on our exclusive Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals at Drone U Black Friday Deals page! Whether you're flying for fun or profit, now's the time to elevate your skills with our top-notch courses. Our episode today is...
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ADU 1390: What Opportunities are available for Pilots amidst the DJI Ban
What opportunities and drone options should pilot explore before/after DJI Ban? In this episode of Ask Drone U, Paul and Rob tackle one of the most common questions surfacing around the proposed DJI ban: Which drone should you buy before the ban takes effect — the Mavic 4T or the 4E — especially…
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ADU 1370: Navigating the Drone Industry: In-House vs. Contractors
How should pilots navigate the fast changing drone industry? In this episode of ADU, hosts Paul and Rob discuss the evolving landscape of drone programs, focusing on employment trends, measuring success, and the importance of quality inspections over quantity. They emphasize the need for…
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EDL 016: From Hobby drone pilot to Mastering FPV Drone Flying – A Conversation with Cameron Goldberg
In this episode of Elevating Drone Life, host Paul Aitken speaks with Cameron Goldberg, a renowned FPV drone pilot known for his stunning aerial shots at Red Rocks. They discuss Cameron's journey into drone flying, the challenges of operating in various environments, and the importance of…
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EDL 015: How Skylights Tech is Transforming Drone Shows
Discover how Skylights Tech has transformed the art of storytelling through drones, creating breathtaking aerial displays that captivate audiences worldwide. In this captivating episode of "Elevating Drone Life," we take you behind the scenes of the mesmerizing world of drone shows with the...
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ADU 1388: Buy DJI or American drones before DJI ban?
What should you know about the FAA Part 108 and how can it impact your drone operations? Today's podcast is brought to you by Drone U's In-Person training. We are announcing bootcamps in November and December. Sign up today before we are sold out !! This is our five-day boot camp that includes a...
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ADU 1389: FAA’s Part 108 and its impact on drone operations
What should you know about the FAA Part 108 and how can it impact your drone operations? Today's podcast is brought to you by Drone U's In-Person training. We are announcing bootcamps in November and December. Sign up today before we are sold out !! This is our five-day boot camp that includes a...
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EDL 014: DroneSoccer and inspiring the next generation of aviators: Lina Pineros from CrewConcept
Discover how DroneSoccer is shaping teamwork, tech skills, and future aviators. Planning to get kids involved in Drones? What better way than to get them introduced to Drone Soccer - a fun and innovate program for kids to be involved in competitive environments that includes getting kids exposed…
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ADU 1387: What LiDAR systems are NDAA compliant?
What should pilots know about NDAA compliance for LiDAR systems. Today's podcast is brought to you by Drone U's In-Person training. This is our five-day boot camp that includes a one-day Flight Mastery + Videography Training, followed by 4 days of Desktop and Cloud Based Mapping training. In this...
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ADU 1386: Drone Rules for 2025 AND 2026
Recreational, Commercial, VLOS, BVLOS, LAANC, Authorizations, Remote ID, Registrations. Flying recreationally vs commercially today and in 2026? Flooded with the tons of flight and drone requirements for flying commercially or recreationally? Today's podcast is brought to you by Drone U's…
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ADU 1385: How to Choose the Right Drone for Your Enterprise Program?
What drones can pilots choose based on their requirements and what are some of the best drones across multiple domains. Today's podcast is brought to you by Drone U's In-Person training. This is our five-day boot camp that includes a one-day Flight Mastery + Videography Training, followed by 4…
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ADU 1384: What do changing tariffs mean for pilots and How should pilots navigate tariffs
Have new tariffs been signed and what are the implications for pilots. Today's podcast is brought to you by Drone U's Experience Training in June. Our first three Experience Training events sold out in less than a week; and it's time to take flight again! Our all-inclusive 5-day training paired...
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EDL 013: How to Start a Drone Business and Go Full-Time: Keson Drayton’s Success Story
Want to start a drone business in 2025 and get paid to fly? This episode reveals how Keson Drayton turned a career layoff into a profitable freelance drone business—using hustle, mindset, and the “Costco effect” to win clients. From picking up a Phantom 4 to building D Flight Productions into a...
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ADU 1383: Drones as first responders and regulations on DSP operations
What should DSP know from a first responder regulations perspective. Today's podcast is brought to you by Drone U's Experience Training in June. Our first three Experience Training events sold out in less than a week; and it's time to take flight again! Our all-inclusive 5-day training paired…
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EDL 012: From Hobbyist to Tech Leader: How Brian Owens Turned Drone Innovation Into Construction’s Future
Want to build a serious drone career in construction, VDC, or mapping? This episode explores how Brian Owens transformed construction workflows using drones and BIM models—and how you can profit from it. In this episode of Elevating Drone Life, Rob talks with Brian Owens, Field Solutions Lead at...
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ADU 1382: Build my own drone to do photogrammetry work?
As a pilot what are my options for building and developing systems for my drone. Today's podcast is brought to you by Drone U's Experience Training in June. Our first three Experience Training events sold out in less than a week; and it's time to take flight again! Our all-inclusive 5-day…
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EDL 011: From Laid Off to 6-Figure Drone Filmmaker: Jason Flakes’ FAA-Approved Flight Plan
Want to grow your drone business, book high-paying contracts, and get FAA-authorized for restricted airspace? This episode reveals how Jason Flakes did it—step by step. In this episode of Elevating Drone Life, Rob talks with Jason Flakes, the award-winning founder of Visual 14, about how he…
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ADU 1381: What are the best drone jobs for RV parks?
Tips for pilots to approach RV parks for seeking drone business. Today's podcast is brought to you by Drone U's Experience Training in June. Our first three Experience Training events sold out in less than a week; and it's time to take flight again! Our all-inclusive 5-day training paired with a...
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ADU 1380: Types of work available for Pilots living in rural areas
Can pilots secure profitable drone jobs in rural areas? What skills are required? Today's episode is brought to you by Drone U in-person training, a unique in-person training event that is focused on developing a holistic drone pilot, where you will be hands-on learning environment. Launching 2…
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EDL 010: How Jorge Alvarez Grew Drone Permission Into a Construction Drone Powerhouse
In this episode of Elevating Drone Life, we talk with Jorge Alvarez, founder of Drone Permission, about his journey from the concrete and construction industry to becoming a leader in drone services across Florida and the Caribbean. Jorge shares how he built a successful drone business by…
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EDL 009: Elevating Drone Life – Interview with Keith Stancil from NasvilleDrone on Building a Successful Drone Business
Welcome to Elevating Drone Life, the podcast for drone professionals !! Elevating Drone Life is a podcast for drone professionals by drone professionals. It is a podcast that takes you on a journey through the exciting and ever-evolving world of drone technology. Each episode, we'll be speaking...
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ADU 1379: Navigating Drone Business Success: Drones, Tech Upgrades, and maintaining the Right Mindset
Should we emphasize getting the latest drone for business or bootstrap? Today's episode is brought to you by Drone U in-person training, a unique in-person training event that is focused on developing a holistic drone pilot, where you will be hands-on learning environment. Launching 2 new…
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ADU 1378: Is the Air 3S and Pix4D sufficient for construction project timelapse?
Whats a good drone for construction project timelapse? Today's episode is brought to you by Drone U Experience training, a unique training event that is focused on developing a holistic drone pilot, where you will be immersed in an experienced-based learning environment. You'll take flight daily...
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ADU 1377: Mapping and Block Chain Technology – Powerful Combo or Fools Errand?
Is it advantageous to use Blockchain technology in the mapping industry? or are we complicating matters? Today's episode is brought to you by Drone U Experience training, a unique training event that is focused on developing a holistic drone pilot, where you will be immersed in an…
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ADU 1376 : Drone Insurance Canceled?! What Pilots Need to Know About Non-Renewals & Coverage Changes
How to deal with drone insurance issues? Who are the best players in the drone industry for drone insurance? On today's episode we discuss all about drone insurance including covering topics of insurance in the event of theft out of vehicle, crash, job site theft and if you should you put on home...
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ADU 1375: How to build out a 3 year projection for an SBA Loan
How can business owners project 3 year revenues and maintain a steady flow of revenue? On today's episode we discuss ways to project finances and revenues for future and ways by which individuals and business owners can set up systems to effectively calculate future cash flows. We also go over…
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ADU 1374: How to save waypoint (Mission) in case the drone is lost / stolen
What options do pilots have to save their flight data? On today's episode we answer Kevin's question on how we can save and manage flight data on your drone in the event of a theft of your drone/drone system. Join Paul and Rob as we show a quick live demo of how you can save your drone data on…
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ADU 1373: How can drone 2D/3D models help make dirt work efficient in construction projects?
Can 2D or 3D models make dirt work in construction more efficient? What techniques exist and how can businesses go about efficiently conducting earth work. Happy New Year from Drone U to you and your family. Today’s episode is also brought to you by Colorado Drone Chargers, specialists who offer...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
We’re Drone U, a group of guys who have turned their passion for flight into a profitable business. We love hearing from our fans, and we love helping by answering their questions. That’s why we started the Ask Drone U podcast in 2015. Since then, we are one of the largest, most popular DAILY drone podcasts out there. Each episode features an actual question submitted from someone just like you! We wish we could answer everyone’s question(s), but we’ll do our best to get through as many of them as we can. So plug in those headphones because it’s time to learn together about everything drone: FAA, insurance, business strategies, videography, drone tips, flight techniques, drone tricks, expert advice, cameras, gimbals, and so much more. #askdroneu
HOSTED BY
Drone U
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Ask Drone U have?
Ask Drone U currently has 300 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Ask Drone U about?
We’re Drone U, a group of guys who have turned their passion for flight into a profitable business. We love hearing from our fans, and we love helping by answering their questions. That’s why we started the Ask Drone U podcast in 2015. Since then, we are one of the largest, most popular DAILY drone...
How often does Ask Drone U release new episodes?
Ask Drone U publishes regularly with 300 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Ask Drone U?
You can listen to Ask Drone U on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Ask Drone U?
Ask Drone U is created and hosted by Drone U.
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