Looking for a simpler, easier way to pilot your drone and save time and money?

Then today’s guest on the Drone Radio Show has exactly what you need. Ian Smith is with Drone Deploy out of San Francisco and handles their sales and marketing management for the company. Ian has more than 9 years’ experience in the drone industry, some of that with a company in France. His personal, business and international experience gives him a unique perspective on the drone industry. On this edition of the Drone Radio Show, he talks about Drone Deploy, the company’s products designed to improve your bottom line (ROI) and offer his perspective on the drone industry.

What do commercial drone users want and how will this propel the next wave of industry growth?

We explore these questions and what means to you on this episode of the Drone Radio Show. My guest on this edition of the Drone Radio Show is Gretchen West, Senior Advisor at Hogan Lovells and a member of the firm’s Global Unmanned Aircraft Systems Group. She has served the unmanned systems industry over a decade. Prior to joining Hogan Lovells, Gretchen was at San Francisco start-up DroneDeploy serving as the company’s Vice President of Business Development and Regulatory Affairs. And previously, for over a decade, Gretchen served as AUVSI’s Executive Vice President, overseeing the organization’s global business development initiatives and government relations efforts for the unmanned systems and robotics industry.

There’s no better qualified person to speak on the commercial opportunities in the drone industry. In this episode, Gretchen talks about the issues facing the drone industry today, where things are headed and how Hogan Lovells and the drone industry is coming together to better serve drone users and their ROI.

As the popularity of drones increases, so do the legal questions surrounding their use. From privacy, liability and FAA regulations, commercial drone operators need to understand the legal lay of the land.

On this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Phil Stiles, an attorney specializing in drone law and the co-founder, President and General Counsel of an FAA approved drone company named SkyViewHD, talks about the legal issues that commercial drone operators should consider as they develop their drone based business. A must-hear podcast for anyone thinking about a commercial drone enterprise.

Ever wonder about using a drone to conduct an inspection?  In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, we'll explore this topic with Bob Johnson, Senior Vice President of Solusia Air, a national company specializing in UAS quality audits and inspections.  Bob has over 30 years of experience with corporate and start-up technology companies in business development. He has been associated with disruptive and over-the-top technologies within the telecom, wireless, railroad, utilities and predictive analytics sectors.   In this episode, Bob talks about inspections and data gathering in the infrastructure sector using drones, as well as the opportunities for people seeking careers in this challenging field.

Do you need drone insurance?

We explore this question on this episode of the Drone Radio Show with Grant Goldsmith president of Overwatch a division of Avalon Risk Management Company.  Overwatch specializes in high risk insurance for the U.S. government, United Nations, NATO and international commercial contractors working globally.  The company also provides insurance for the commercial drone industry.  Grant has more than 20 years of insurance and transportation experience.  He talks about the benefits of drone insurance and why commercial operators might want to think about adding coverage to protect their business.

With an expected 750,000 (or more) drones being purchased for this Christmas season, there is sure to be a large number of people wondering where they can fly their drone and what they need to know if they’re starting a drone based business. 

Tom McMahon is the Vice President of Advocacy and Public Affairs for the Association of Unmanned Vehicles Systems International. AUVSI is the world’s largest non-profit organization devoted exclusively to advancing the unmanned systems and robotics community.  In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Tom talks about what commercial drone operators need to know before they fly a commercial drone.  If you recently purchased or received a drone and you’re thinking about starting a drone based business, then what Tom has to say is critical to ensure your business operates safely and within the guidelines of the FAA.

Can drones provide the framework for an effective STEM Education Program?

We explore this question on this edition of the Drone Radio Show with Anne Lopez, a teacher at Eastside Middle School in Mt. Washington, Kentucky.  Anne teaches STEM education, and in 2015, she introduced a class to middle schoolers on the history, use and operation of drones.  The curriculum quickly gained praise from the drone industry and from education professionals for its innovative approach and hands-on learning. Anne's talks about the curriculum, the lessons learned and the place that drones play in STEM education. If you’re a STEM educator, then you’re especially going to enjoy this interview.

What does the future hold for Drone Racing as a n entertainment sport and business?  Find out in this episode of the Drone Radio Show.

Scot Refslan is the Founder and CEO of Flying Grounds, a new company focused on the intersection of Drone Sport and STEM Education.  He is the founder of the Berkeley FPV Explorers and Racers meetup group with over 500 active pilots.  Scot has a PhD in Virtual Reality from Gifu University, Japan with an undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California. Dr. Refsland’s focus is to help accelerate STEM education in order to prepare the US's next generation workforce for a multi-disciplined sUAV industry. In 2015, his company organized the U.S. National Drone Racing Chapionships a the California State Fair and in 2016, he will present the first international drone competition, the Drone Worlds.

In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Scot talks about the business of drone racing, the challenges of growing a new sport, the role of FPV racing in STEM education and the plans for the 2016 Drone Worlds competition.  If you’re interested in FPV racing as a sport, entertainment or as a learning support tool, then you’re going to love this interview.

With all of the changing technology and rules and regulations in the drone industry, don’t you sometimes wish there was a friendly place you could go to get the answers you need?

Alan Perlman is a drone hobbyist and marketing consultant who runs UAV Coach, a website that helps to push the drone community forward with educational and inspirational content and training. If you’re struggling with choosing a drone, learning how to fly or building a drone based business, then maybe the UAV Coach can help. In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Alan talks about his products and services, the UAV Coach community and how the UAV Coach helps people reach their goals and develop more confidence with drones.

Some studies say that the best way to learn something is to put it to music or to make it funny.  Today's guest on the Drone Radio Show would go one step further and say do both.  Victor Villegas is a technologist at heart who enjoys helping people learn how to use technology to improve work and better their lives.  He bridges techies and users and has a knack for explaining technology in simple and easy to understand terms.  When not working for the Oregon State University Extension Computing Technology Unit, Victor is combining his love of drones, education and music to produce song parodies that promote the message of flying safe.  He's the Drone Singer and he's here to share some of his songs and talk about the inspiration and message behind his passion.