Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast

Ershad Mahamad walked away from a 20-year career maintaining aircraft for Caribbean Airlines and Bombardier — and came home to Guyana to build the country's first commercial drone company. What followed was five years of regulatory groundwork, ExxonMobil certifications, 12-subject training programmes, and a 31-person operation covering agriculture, oil and gas, mining, and now drone delivery.

In this episode, Ershad breaks down what it actually took to get Guy Drones certified by the GCAA, the EPA, and a major oil major — all at once — and why he believes drone pilots deserve the same professional recognition as manned aircraft pilots. He also shares the company's expansion into underwater ROVs, the Unitree robot dog, and an incoming drone delivery service built around Guyana's unique geography.

Tune in to discover what building a world-class drone operation in the Caribbean really looks like — from rice fields to oil rigs.

The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.

Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.com

Email: [email protected]

All our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod

* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

Manoel Coelho has built what most drone founders only talk about: a commercially operating delivery network flying in 14 countries, powered by aircraft his company manufactures and never sells. As CEO of Speedbird Aero — Latin America's first BVLOS-certified drone operator — Manoel walks Alan through how a telemedicine startup in Arizona became the company powering the Royal Mail's first permanent UK drone service and the world's longest-running commercial food drone delivery program. We get into the full DLV aircraft lineup, the wet-lease business model, ship-to-shore cargo delivery in Singapore and Brazil, and what Part 108 could mean for drone delivery companies finally entering the US at scale. For any operator thinking about island logistics, BVLOS operations, or what commercial drone delivery actually looks like in practice — this one is essential listening. Tune in to discover how the most advanced drone delivery network in Latin America was built in a country with the world's highest interest rates.

The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.

Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.com

Email: [email protected]

All our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod

* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

Discover how one global network is quietly shaping the future of drones, robotics, and AI across the entire energy industry — and why the Caribbean is more connected to this movement than you might think.

Sean Guerre, Executive Director of the Energy Drone and Robotics Coalition (EDRC), sits down with Alan to trace the organisation's journey from a 150-person event to a global network of over 20,000 professionals and 200+ energy and utility companies. Sean unpacks what's happening right now in autonomous operations, the regulatory shifts that will affect every drone operator, and why the next decade looks very different from the last.

Key topics covered:

• How the EDRC grew from a small meetup to the world's premier industrial drone and robotics network
• The current state of autonomous operations in oil, gas, and energy — including Level 4 automation in the field today
• What Caribbean professionals can expect at the Energy Drone & Robotics Summit (June 22–24, Houston)
• Key regulatory developments — NDAA/FCC supply chain rules and FAA Part 108 — and what they mean for operators
• How humanoids, drone-in-a-box systems, and physical AI are changing energy operations right now

Guest: Sean Guerre, Executive Director, Energy Drone and Robotics Coalition EDRC Website: edrcoalition.com

The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.

Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.com

Email: [email protected]

All our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod

* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

From basement beginnings in Hungary to drones flying in 25 countries — this week's episode is for anyone who believes that the future of agriculture and infrastructure is aerial, and that Europe has a seat at the table.

Alan sits down with Károly Ludvigh, CEO and co-founder of ABZ Innovation, a Hungarian company that got fed up with poor-performing spray drones and simply decided to build their own. What started as a precision agriculture solution has grown into a full product ecosystem — from heavy-duty spraying drones to building-cleaning machines that can reach 200 feet without scaffolding. Károly breaks down the technology, the business model, and the regulatory battles that shaped ABZ Innovation's journey from Budapest to the global stage.

Key topics covered:

• Controlled Droplet Application (CDA): how ABZ Innovation achieves 90% water savings and 50% chemical reduction compared to traditional spraying
• The C-Series cleaning drone — why a building-cleaning drone is outperforming expectations and replacing scaffolding worldwide
• The M-Series open platform — a customisable drone ecosystem for universities, researchers, and businesses with unique payload needs
• Right to Repair philosophy and why it matters for operators 
• Navigating global drone regulations 

Guest: Károly Ludvigh — CEO & Co-Founder, ABZ Innovation

Website: ABZinnovation.eu  |  YouTube: ABZ Innovation  |  Instagram: @ABZdroneinnovation | LinkedIn: ABZ Innovation | TikTok: @ABZInnovation | Facebook: ABZ Innovation

The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.

Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.com

Email: [email protected]

All our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod

* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

Turn a toy into a career — James Tobon of Drone Training School USA breaks down exactly how that transformation happens.

James Tobon started with a Christmas gift drone and turned it into one of the most recognised drone training operations in the United States. In this episode, he shares how he built Drone Training School USA from scratch, why professional certification matters more than ever, and how his school is now training government entities and private clients across the Caribbean and Latin America.

Key topics covered:

• Why the Part 107 drone pilot licence is non-negotiable for professional work — and how James earned his before there was a clear path to do so
• How Drone Training School USA tailors training for government agencies, public safety departments, and private operators across multiple platforms
• Why construction — not real estate — is currently the most profitable sector for drone pilots
• The growing impact of advanced air mobility and drone delivery regulations (Part 108) on the everyday commercial pilot
• The personal growth philosophy James credits as the real foundation of his business success

Contact James:

 Website: dronetrainingus.com

Instagram

YouTube

Facebook

LinkedIn

Visit pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.com for show notes, links, and more episodes.

The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.

Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.com

Email: [email protected]

All our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod

* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

After Hurricane Melissa, one Jamaican organisation stepped up to coordinate 26+ drone pilots and nearly 30 international organisations in what may be the largest drone disaster response effort in history. Here's how they did it — and what they're building next.
Dr. Valrie Grant, founder of Jamaica Flying Labs and Geotech Vision, joins the podcast to unpack the Hurricane Melissa drone response, the upcoming Drones, AI and GIS for Disaster Risk Management Conference in Montego Bay, and her vision for the Caribbean. From training media professionals through UNESCO to advocating for regional drone certification standards, Dr. Grant makes the case that geospatial technology is no longer a nice-to-have for Caribbean disaster management — it's fundamental. This is an essential listen for anyone working in disaster resilience, emergency management, GIS, or Caribbean tech.

Where to learn more:
Drones, AI and GIS for Disaster Risk Management Conference:  https://flyinglabs.org/drmconference2026
Dr. Valrie Grant’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valriegrant
Geotech Vision: https://www.geotechvision.com/
Jamaica Flying Labs: https://flyinglabs.org/jamaica
We Robotics: https://werobotics.org/
UN-GGIM: https://ggim.un.org/
Previous Episode: https://youtu.be/FgmLfr1Fki8
Josiah Burkett Episode: https://youtu.be/oiJoBz3QSig
CDEMA (Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency): https://www.cdema.org/
Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT): https://www.hotosm.org/

Mapping the Conversations Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2UQpDE3wa3O7qlqWPqbXBg?si=07a3b1e98d7646bc

The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.

Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.com

Email: [email protected]

All our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod

* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

This is the March 2026 edition of Caribbean Drone News, your monthly roundup covering the stories shaping how drones are being used across the region. From grassroots STEM programs to international aerospace partnerships, this month's edition is packed with proof that the Caribbean is not just consuming drone technology — it is creating it.

Dragonfly Drone Kids 2026 details: July 13–16, 2026 | dragonflyguyana.com | [email protected] | +592-687-2714

Subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.

Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.com

Email: [email protected]

All our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod

* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

3 hours. 11 minutes. 53 seconds. One battery charge. A Guinness World Record and that's not even the most impressive part of what SiFly is building.

David Mazar, Chief Strategy Officer at SiFly and 12-year Boeing veteran, joins the Pilots of the Caribbean podcast to break down exactly how the Q12 achieves what most people in the drone industry thought was impossible — and what the company is planning next (spoiler: a 200-mile range record attempt).

We get into the engineering, the business model, the regulatory landscape, and the Q250 — a 550-pound max takeoff weight platform designed for cargo, agricultural spraying, and search and rescue.

The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.

Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.com

Email: [email protected]

All our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod

* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

Michael Joseph started farming in Antigua in September 2019 — just weeks before Covid hit. He had no drone experience. During lockdown, he was scrolling YouTube and came across an ad for a DJI agricultural spray drone. It took him three years to save enough to buy one.

In 2025, at 22 years old, he became the youngest person ever to win the CARICOM Young Farmer of the Year Award. He found out the week before the ceremony — just before his birthday. He got recognised at the supermarket, at the airport, and on a flight in Saint Kitts.

His story is one of the most distinctly Caribbean drone journeys on this podcast: a solo operator running his own farm and a drone spray service for other Antiguan farmers, using 80% less chemical than a backpack sprayer, saving a papaya tree two days from being cut down with a couple of targeted spray applications, and now in discussions with US-based autonomous farming robotics companies about building a compact version of their technology scaled for small Caribbean farms.

Contact Michael:

LinkedIn

The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.

Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.com

Email: [email protected]

All our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod

* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

AUVSI Exponential is the largest UAS and autonomous technology event in North America. This year it's in Detroit, May 12–14. If you're from the Caribbean and thinking about attending — or if you've been to a smaller conference and want to step up — this is the episode to watch first.

Krystel Jackson of Messe North America helped organise Exponential. She sat down with Pilots of the Caribbean to explain, from the inside, what the event actually is, how to navigate it without getting completely overwhelmed, what the new pre-show matchmaking sessions mean for first-timers, and why knowing your goal before you arrive makes all the difference between a great week and a confusing one.

Dates: Exponential Europe — March 22–24, Germany | Exponential US — May 12–14, Detroit (pre-conference keynote May 11)

Get the Drone Pilot Checklist!

The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.

Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.com

Email: [email protected]

All our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod

* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*