In this episode of Your Drone Questions Answered, we dive into the strictest drone laws in US cities and states. Key topics covered: Washington D.C.'s extensive no-fly zonesNew York City's new permit requirementsRestrictions in other major cities like L.A. and SeattleState-level privacy laws affecting drone useTips for checking local regulations before flyingWhether you're a local or traveling drone pilot, understanding these laws is crucial. We break down the key restrictions and provide...

Ever wondered what goes into creating those mesmerizing drone light shows? In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, host John Dickow sits down with Jacob Howard, CEO of Illuminate Drones, to uncover the world of drone light shows. Key topics covered: The journey from amateur drone enthusiast to professional light show creatorDifferences between indoor and outdoor drone showsThe complex systems and software behind coordinating hundreds of dronesDesign process and challenges in...

In this episode, John Dickow of Drone Launch Academy talks with Gavin Dillon, owner and chief pilot at Golf Delta Aerial Services, about how to find your first clients when starting a drone business. Key points covered: Gavin's journey from getting his pilot's license to starting his drone businessThe importance of having an online presence, even a minimal oneHow to leverage Google profiles and social media to attract clientsTips for finding your niche in the drone industryThe value of...

In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, host John Dickow sits down with Shyon Samadi, an sUAS flight operator with Wing and owner of Virginia Drone Shots, to discuss the current state of drone deliveries. Key points covered: The progress of drone deliveries from concept to realityMajor players in the drone delivery space, including Walmart's partnershipsHow drone deliveries work, from order placement to deliveryTechnological advancements like Wing's auto-loader systemLimitations...

In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, John Dickow and David Young tackle a tough but common question: What are the best consumer drones made in the US or not made in China? Key points covered: The scarcity of high-quality US-made consumer dronesWhy US drone manufacturers focus on enterprise and military marketsDiscussion of enterprise drone options (Skydio, Brinc, Wingtra, etc.)The economic factors behind the lack of US consumer drone optionsDJI's dominance and potential...

In this episode of "Your Drone Questions. Answered", David tackles the common question of whether you can legally fly your drone in your neighborhood. He covers the key federal, state, and local laws and regulations you need to be aware of, including FAA airspace restrictions, privacy laws, and specific examples from states like California, Texas, North Carolina, and Florida.David also provides practical tips and best practices for being a considerate drone pilot, such as introducing yourself...

In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, host John Dickow interviews David Beedy, founder of Beedy Media, about shooting commercial drone video for clients. With over 30 years of video production experience, David shares valuable insights: What clients are looking for in commercial drone footageCombining conventional drone shots with FPV drone footageUsing the DJI Avata for indoor shootingTips for stabilizing shaky FPV footage in post-productionBest practices for sharing and...

In this episode of Your Drone Questions Answered, host John Dickow welcomes back Dave Downey, Senior Event Specialist at BCC Live, to discuss tips for capturing quality drone footage at night. Key topics covered: Challenges of shooting with prosumer drones at nightImportance of filming lit subjectsUsing dusk/dawn lighting tricksPros and cons of auto settings vs manual controlHigher-end drone options for night shootingConsiderations when filming fireworks displaysThe value of practice and test...

Discover the top applications for planning and executing drone waypoint missions with David Young, founder of Drone Launch Academy. Learn about options ranging from affordable apps like Litchi to more advanced solutions like DroneLink and DroneDeploy. Whether you're a hobbyist or professional drone pilot, this episode covers free and paid options to automate your drone flights, capture perfect orbits, and streamline your workflow. Key topics covered: Popular waypoint mission apps: Litchi,...

Can you fly your drone at night in Class D airspace? David Young, founder of Drone Launch Academy, breaks down the rules and requirements for nighttime drone operations in controlled airspace. Key points covered: Part 107 nighttime flying regulationsRequirements for anti-collision lightingDifferences between controlled and uncontrolled airspaceHow to get authorization for night flights in Class D airspaceOverview of airspace classes (B, C, D, E, G)Whether you're a new drone pilot or looking...

Discover the essential drone features for measuring plant health on golf courses and beyond! 🌱🏌️‍♂️🚁 In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, John Dickow interviews Kendall Marquardt, founder of Precision Drone Mapping Services, about: Multispectral drone technology for assessing turf healthDJI Multispectral Enterprise 3 drone capabilitiesPost-flight data processing and analysis platformsColor-coded plant health indicatorsArbor Pearl software for tree managementTips for aspiring...

Thinking of starting a drone business but not sure which industry to focus on? In this episode, John Dickow of Drone Launch Academy interviews Nathan Sheets, founder of The Drone Ranger, about the top drone industry verticals to consider. Key topics covered: How to research and choose profitable drone industry verticalsFactors to consider when selecting an industry (personal interest, profitability, connections)Tips for market research and testing different verticalsAdvice for new drone...

In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered (YDQA), host John Dickow talks with Nathan Sheets, founder of The Drone Ranger, about effective marketing strategies for drone businesses. Key topics covered: Online vs offline marketing approachesBuilding a strong web presence and portfolioNetworking and in-person marketing tacticsTips for creating a professional websiteUtilizing social media for brand buildingNathan shares insights from his experience growing The Drone Ranger since 2021,...

In this episode of Your Drone Questions Answered, John Dickow and David Young break down the costs associated with getting a drone license. They cover: Recreational vs. commercial drone useThe free TRUST certification for recreational pilotsPart 107 commercial drone license costs ($175 exam fee)Optional training course costs ($150-$600)Drone costs for beginners ($29-$500+)Total investment for commercial drone pilots ($700-$1000+)David explains the differences between recreational and...

In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, host John Dickow interviews Ryan Stotsky, the owner and operator of Zero to 400 Drone Services. Ryan shares his unique business of using drones with thermal cameras to help locate lost pets. He walks through the process of how he receives calls from distraught pet owners, assesses if a drone search is viable based on factors like airspace, and then conducts nighttime thermal imaging flights to try to detect the pet's heat signature. Ryan...

Welcome back to another episode of "Your Drone Questions. Answered" with John Dickow from Drone Launch Academy! Today, we dive into a specific question from our community: how to best serve property owners with aerial content and navigate indoor drone flights for real estate shoots. Joining John is James Grace, founder of JMG Aerial Imagery. With five years of experience and a rich background in Sony Pictures, James shares his journey from hobbyist drone pilot to a successful entrepreneur....

Welcome back to Your Drone Questions. Answered!Today, we tackle an exciting and timely topic: upcoming changes to operating drones beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) from a commercial perspective. David discusses the recent signing of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 by the president on May 16th. This act sets the stage for significant changes in BVLOS operations, with a final rule expected by September 2025. This new rule will streamline the process for commercial drone operators,...

In this episode of Your Drone Questions Answered, we discuss an important topic for drone pilots - how to properly price your drone services. John is joined by Cody Retlich, founder and CEO of DroneAdair, who shares his valuable insights and tips. Cody emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions upfront to understand the client's needs and expectations fully. He stresses considering factors like location, experience, equipment, project scope, deliverables, and post-production...

Welcome back to another episode of "Your Drone Questions. Answered"! Join John Dickow from Drone Launch Academy and David Young, founder of Drone Launch Academy, as they tackle a question- which remote ID modules are recommended for older drones like the Mini 2 and Mavic 2 Pro used in his school. Discover the top three remote ID module recommendations based on price, ease of use, and compliance with FAA standards in this insightful discussion. In this episode, you'll learn...

Welcome back to Your Drone Questions Answered! In this episode, we're tackling a common question: Can a licensed drone pilot let someone without a license use their license to post commercial real estate photos? Our host, John Dickow, chats with David Young from Drone Launch Academy to break down this topic. They dive into the FAA rules, discussing what's allowed and what's not when it comes to commercial drone photography. David explains that while some people think it's okay for a...

Welcome back to another episode of "Your Drone Questions. Answered"! In this episode, we dive into the world of mapping with drone technology. Join John Dickow from Drone Launch Academy as we answer your questions and explores the process of sharing maps online. Today's question comes from a viewer who recently acquired a license for PIX4D mapper but is unsure how to share maps online, particularly with an embed code. To shed light on this topic, John invites Michael Lilley, founder of Wet...

How to Measure Roofs and Detect Leaks with Drones Welcome back to another episode of "Your drone questions. answered". In this episode our guest expert is Jason Koonce from 107 Technologies. He walks through step-by-step how to accurately measure roofs using drones and photogrammetry software. Jason covers the key steps like capturing drone data, establishing known measurement references, determining roof pitch, and processing the data into an orthomosaic map. He demonstrates how to upload...

Welcome to another episode of Your Drone Questions Answered! In this episode, David Young from Drone Launch Academy tackles a viewer question about flying drones over people and vehicles. Richard Johnson asks about the rules regarding flying drones over sidewalks and roads to capture oblique shots of a church.  More information can be found on FAA's website here- https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/operations_over_people If you have questions about drone operations or want to learn...

Welcome to "Your Drone Questions. Answered"! In this episode, John Dickow from Drone Launch Academy is joined by Dylan Gorman, founder of Pilot Byte, to delve into achieving high accuracy with drones. Dylan, with his extensive mapping and photogrammetry experience, shares insights on three main methods for optimal accuracy: visual accuracy focusing on ground sampling distance (GSD), physical accuracy using ground control points, PPK, and RTK technologies. He also discusses ideal altitude and...