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 focusing on client communication, asking the right questions, and delivering high-quality work that meets the needs of construction stakeholders.

He explains how drone technology is transforming the way project progress is documented—particularly on massive projects like the MSC Cruise Terminal—and why educating clients on what drones can do is essential for sustained business growth. 

Jorge also opens up about how he built a referral-driven business, scaled a team, and created efficient pricing strategies that reflect both value and confidence.

This conversation is packed with industry insights around mapping software, networking, collaboration, and using drones to enhance decision-making and stakeholder communication in the field.

Key Takeaways

Jorge Alvarez transitioned from concrete to the drone industry by applying his knowledge of construction workflows

Success begins with listening: understanding client needs and asking informed questions builds trust

Referral business and strong client relationships fuel sustainable growth

Drones offer unmatched value in construction documentation and project progress tracking

Tailored drone services—including aerial photography, mapping, and inspections—can solve real problems when client goals are clear

Educating clients is key to expanding the use of drone technology in traditional industries

Starting a business while working full-time is doable with the right systems and support

Investing in relationships and collaboration opens doors to more opportunities and better projects

Effective pricing strategies should reflect the value of the work and the unique insights drone pilots offer

The future of the drone industry includes internal pilots, growing enterprise demand, and more emphasis on visual storytelling and deliverables

Tune in and learn how to plan, grow, and succeed in the world of drones!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

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Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction to Drone Permission and Its Impact

[03:09] Jorge Alvarez's Journey into Drones

[05:57] The Importance of Client Communication

[09:11] Understanding Construction Needs

[11:53] The Role of Drones in Construction

[14:52] Building Relationships and Referral Business

[17:46] Capturing Progress: The MSC Cruise Terminal Project

[21:05] Innovative Uses of Drone Footage

[23:49] The Evolution of Drone Technology

[27:11] Maximizing Drone Usage and Skills

[30:06] Mapping and Software Utilization

[33:59] Educating Clients and Building Relationships

[36:24] The Journey of Starting a Business

[39:31] Networking and Collaboration in the Drone Industry

[42:47] Favorite Projects and Unique Experiences

[48:27] Understanding Pricing Strategies

[56:31] The Importance of Confidence in Pricing

[01:00:43] Future Aspirations and Industry Growth

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 with professionals from all walks of the drone industry, Drone U Elite Instructors and members to learn about their experiences, insights, and tips for success. We'll explore the latest trends in drone technology, dive into real-world applications, and uncover the unique challenges and opportunities facing today's drone pilots.

On our show today, we talk to Keith Stancil from NashvilleDrone.co on his journey, drone life and thoughts on becoming a successful drone business owner.

In this episode, Keith from NashvilleDrone.Co shares his fascinating journey from the music industry to the world of drones. Keith discusses his early experiences with music, starting out by working with big names like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the directors of Ocean's 11, Keith discusses his pivot to drone world during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how he transitioned into drone flying and video editing. In their conversations, Rob and Keith explore the importance of branding, social media content creation, and leveraging skills from previous industries to grow a successful drone business.

Keith opens up about the challenges and successes he faced in building his drone business, the editing software efforts and techniques that have worked for him, and how he's managed to stay hands-on with his production rather than outsourcing. They discuss the significance of a strong portfolio, networking, and keeping a constant circle of connections to ensure continuous business growth.

In addition to his business insights, Keith dives into his experiences with various drones, including his work with Phantoms and the current fleet he uses for projects. He also shares his involvement in SkyHymnal, the first drone-based artist, and his journey with Drone U—highlighting the value of membership and coaching calls for drone entrepreneurs. Keith also shares his experiences in the drone business, discussing the challenges and strategies for pricing, community building, the importance of taking action and networking that lead Keith to a $28 million project.

Keith wraps up the conversation by sharing three essential tips for aspiring drone entrepreneurs: how to pursue opportunities, network effectively, and grow a business in the drone industry. Whether you're looking to purchase a drone, manage drone tech, or navigate the world of drone entrepreneurship, this episode has valuable insights to help you succeed.

Tune in and learn how to plan, grow, and succeed in the world of drones!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

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Timestamps:

[03:11] Learn more about Keith Stancil, his journey in the music industry and getting into the Drone Industry during Covid

[15:19] Keith's early days in the drone industry and how his business grew gradually over the years

[19:57] Outsourcing efforts vs building your craft and content in-house and scaling business

[23:15] How Keith has structured his company as he grew his drone business

[29:35] The importance of building a strong portfolio for your business and work on the first drone based artis...

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 in-person mapping bootcamps that covers all aspects of mapping projects training you on softwares, flight missions, data acquisitions, desktop or laptop based processing, flight mastery and much much more. Reach out to us to book your seat today.

View our recent review of the Matrice 4 Enterprise and learn why we believe the M4E lives up to the hype.

and Our latest NEWS show on all the hottest news and updates in the drone industry.

On today's episode we discuss about timelines in products for drone business and developing the right mindset for ensuring success in your drone business. Our question for now is from Nick who would like to know how to manage the ever evolving field in drone tech, software updates and upgrades and keeping up to date with regulations.

Thank you Nick for the detailed question. We kick off today's podcast about drones, the Phantoms specifically, and compare the development of drones and their tech and how it is relevant for the industry. We delve into approximate times for drone upgrades and aspects that should drive purchasing decisions for drone pilots. Specific to Nick's question we discuss and compare the Matrice 4E vs the Mavic3E and also answer everything about RTK modules in different drones and learning from experience.

Tune in and get to know more about how to better plan and decide on purchasing drones, managing tech in drones and more !!

5-Day Free Course: Thriving Drone Real Estate Business

Transform your drone operations into a thriving real estate-focused business. Learn client management, pricing for profit, and creating high-value deliverables.

Grow My Drone Business

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Click here for access to Skywatch for all your drone insurance purposes !

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

Follow Us

Site – https://thedroneu.com/

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YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu

Timestamps:

[06:31] Today's question on time to upgrade your drones

[08:51] Learn more about drone development and tech and how they compare to past models

[13:13] Matrice 4 Enterprise vs the Mavic 3 Enterprise

[15:50] Aspects that can drive purchasing decisions for Enterprise drones

[19:19] Learn more about RTK modules in various drones

[24:30] How to stay updates on all the regulatory changes in the drone industry

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 and often, and you'll master cutting-edge drone techniques along the way. Learn from experienced pilots to get the most out of your drone. Also, build repeatable systems to scale your business. Learn more about Drone U Experience Event and Reach out to us to book your seat today.

View our recent review of the Matrice 4 Enterprise and learn why we believe the M4E lives up to the hype.

Our latest NEWS show on all the hottest news and updates in the drone industry.

On today's episode we discuss about drones and softwares to be used for successful modelling and acquisition of data in construction. Thank you Jack for the question. We discuss the nuances of flying and how drones and software functioning in the construction industry. We review if Air3S and Pix4D are relevant for the construction industry and if there are other alternatives and the costs involved in ensuring pilots fly successful missions. We also discuss why it is essential to be licensed in this industry and the various benefits therein.

Tune in and learn more about the ideal drone and drone software for the construction industry

5-Day Free Course: Thriving Drone Real Estate Business

Transform your drone operations into a thriving real estate-focused business. Learn client management, pricing for profit, and creating high-value deliverables.

Grow My Drone Business

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Click here for access to Skywatch for all your drone insurance purposes !

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

Follow Us

Site – https://thedroneu.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu

Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu

Timestamps:

[03:01] Today's question on ideal drone and drone software for construction

[04:15] Air3S and Pix4D for modelling and maps and acquisition software

[05:30] Why pilots in construction need 2 drones

[06:50] Learn more about Drone U Construction class

[10:16] Is it essential to have your license prior to undertaking projects

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 experienced-based learning environment. You'll take flight daily and often, and you'll master cutting-edge drone techniques along the way. Learn from experienced pilots to get the most out of your drone. Also, build repeatable systems to scale your business. Learn more about Drone U Experience Event and Reach out to us to book your seat today.

On today's episode we discuss about the potential of using blockchain technology in the mapping world and the benefits that drone businesses and pilots can leverage using the blockchain technology as they go about developing maps on the blockchain.

Thank you Parker for the question. We discuss all about blockchain tech and how we can combine maps and mapping data into blockchain technology. We delve into the details of surveying maps, surveyor data, methods of current and past surveyor maps and discuss specifics of the surveyor and mapping industry including specifics of title companies, insurance companies and management of geospatial data including answering critical questions such as who owns the data of the blockchain and address blockchain conflicts. We would love to hear feedback from the industry on apps and topics that need to be considered to understand how blockchain can effectively be used in the mapping industry.

Tune in to information packed podcast about all blockchain technology and its potential application and use cases in the mapping world.

5-Day Free Course: Thriving Drone Real Estate Business

Transform your drone operations into a thriving real estate-focused business. Learn client management, pricing for profit, and creating high-value deliverables.

Grow My Drone Business

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Click here for access to Skywatch for all your drone insurance purposes !

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

Follow Us

Site – https://thedroneu.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu

Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu

Timestamps:

[01:04] Learn about Drone U's experience training, a 7 day all comprehensive training to hone your flight and marketing skills

[05:55] Today's question on maps, generating maps and utilizing the blockchain for the mapping domains

[09:06] Comments from officials involved in making surveyor maps on the use of blockchain

[11:38] Will title companies becoming obsolete should the industry leverage blockchain

[14:44] How can geospatial data be included in blockchain databases

[16:21] How blockchain can help insurance companies

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 insurance

Today's question is brought to you by Drone U Mapping courses which is getting updated to add new and relevant content covering software, techniques and deliverable. Our question for today's episode is from Aaron from WI who would like to know all about drone insurance and what are the best options and ways to be insured today.

Thank you Aaron for the question. We discuss into the specifics of understanding drone insurance and managing claims and if pilots are better off obtaining drone insurance from aviation companies as against traditional companies. We explain how pilots can qualify better for drone insurance and why companies such as Skywatch are better positioned to manage drone insurance. We also go over different types of insurance such as general, hull insurance and ways to get the best from an insurance policy

Tune in to this detailed and informative podcast on insurance and how aviation companies offering drone insurance are better suited for drone pilots.

5-Day Free Course: Thriving Drone Real Estate Business

Transform your drone operations into a thriving real estate-focused business. Learn client management, pricing for profit, and creating high-value deliverables.

Grow My Drone Business

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Click here for access to Skywatch for all your drone insurance purposes !

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

Follow Us

Site – https://thedroneu.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu

Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu

Timestamps:

[01:40] Learn more about Drone U's updated mapping classes including content, software, techniques and technology and deliverables

[03:12] Today's question from Aaron on Drone Insurance and best ways to get a drone insurance

[04:37] Is it better to have drone insurance with home owners insurance company or aviation company

[09:55] Do companies in aviation understand insurance claims better than traditional insurance companies

[13:05] Understand risk assessments and liability cases in drone industry

[15:01] Knowing the difference between different types of insurance in the drone industry

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 how business owners can generate a steady income.

Our question for today's episode is from our student, Jimmy, who is securing a SBA loan and wants to calculate the next 3 year cashflows. Jimmy is also getting started on his drone business and wants to know how to generate a steady income in a drone business.

Thank you Jimmy for the question. We delve into understanding how business can plan their forward looking projections through rational means and assumptions. We emphasize how business owners can plan and calculate revenues from services and goods while also understanding how to calculate and identify expenses through ChatGPT and AI. Rob explains how business owners can develop tools to provide rationale for services and how you charge clients in your business.

Rob also shares his Spreadsheet Calculator that he used for developing a projection model when starting Drone U and how business owners can use the tool to build their forward looking plan. (Please reach out to [email protected] if you have questions)

Tune in to this detailed and informative podcast on how you can project your business earnings when obtaining an SBA loan and developing a strong revenue/cash flow model for your business.

5-Day Free Course: Thriving Drone Real Estate Business

Transform your drone operations into a thriving real estate-focused business. Learn client management, pricing for profit, and creating high-value deliverables.

Grow My Drone Business

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

Follow Us

Site – https://thedroneu.com/

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Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu

Timestamps:

[05:20] Today's question on calculating future cashflows and generating steady earning from a drone business

[06:25] Ways to calculate future cashflows from business when securing SBA loans

[07:48] Why is important to understand cashflows and how Drone U calculated its projections (refer description for file link)

[17:51] The benefit of running a business while understanding your strengths and weakness and leveraging business partners and other stakeholders

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 your drone/SD card and ways to import flight data.

Tune in to this quick educational podcast on how you can ensure the safety of your drone data in event of theft or data corruption on your device.

5-Day Free Course: Thriving Drone Real Estate Business

Transform your drone operations into a thriving real estate-focused business. Learn client management, pricing for profit, and creating high-value deliverables.

Grow My Drone Business

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

Follow Us

Site – https://thedroneu.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu

Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu

Timestamps:

[04:07] Today's question on how to manage your flight data in the event of a theft

[06:30] Demo of options and setting on your drone remote to help with saving relevant flight data - export and import

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 drone charging systems that charge multiple batteries and a flight controller at the same time, offering the fastest, and most efficient drone charging solutions on the market.

On today's episode we discuss about mapping specifically how 2D or 3D models can help business involved in construction and how these models can efficiently show how materials / earth work can accurately measured.

Every construction project involves a significant amount of dirt work and understanding how much earth is required for various construction needs in a project.

Our question for today is from Marco Pena who would like to know how drone 2D/3D models can help businesses involved in dirt work.

We discuss about the multiple techniques that business currently utilize and how drones have revolutionized the often arbitrary effort on the field. We also discuss about software and techniques involved in measurement and making earth work efficient and conducting volumetric measurements.

Tune in to this insightful and educational podcast on how you can use drone technology for understanding how to efficiently and effectively measure and carry out dirt work in the field of construction.

5-Day Free Course: Thriving Drone Real Estate Business

Transform your drone operations into a thriving real estate-focused business. Learn client management, pricing for profit, and creating high-value deliverables.

Grow My Drone Business

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

Follow Us

Site – https://thedroneu.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu

Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu

Timestamps:

[03:42] Today's question on how a 2D or 3D model can help with dirt work

[05:03] The evolution of earth works with the use of drones and the changes in cut and fill techniques

[11:49] Calculating the actual amount of dirt work using drones

[11:10] Development of Grok and its use cases

[17:25] Best software to utilize for measurement and calculation of dirt work

[22:19] Importance of having technical knowledge to drive sales in business

Using AI for developing creative content for business.

Happy New Year from Drone U to you and your family.

On today's episode we discuss how we can use AI for creative endeavours. When is it ok and when it isn't and how we can use AI for multiple use cases. In today's AI world where AI is able to accomplish a multitude of tasks from video and audio to text based projects, we discuss how AI can be leveraged in the development of content for drone industry specifically. We go over tools like suno.com and sora.com that can be used to create audio and video and talk about commercial use, monetization and discuss copyright ownership.

Tune in to this insightful and educational podcast on how you can use AI for your creative content requirements and learn about the many use cases of AI.

5-Day Free Course: Thriving Drone Real Estate Business

Transform your drone operations into a thriving real estate-focused business. Learn client management, pricing for profit, and creating high-value deliverables.

Grow My Drone Business

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

Follow Us

Site – https://thedroneu.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu

Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu

Timestamps:

[07:00] Robots and innovations at CES 2025

[08:20] Using AI for filling in for creative work

[10:35] Today's question on use of AI for content creation

[11:10] Development of Grok and its use cases

[16:25] Creating music content for your videos using AI - examples

[23:36] Terms of Use and commercial licensing and copyright