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PODCAST

Your Drone Questions. Answered.

Drone Launch Academy

Have a drone question? We"ll answer it. Welcome to "Your Drone Questions. Answered.", the podcast where we bring you the answers to your burning drone-related questions! Each episode, we take questions submitted by our audience and find industry experts to provide insightful and informative answers. Our interviews with these experts are typically 10-15 minutes long, making it easy to fit into your busy schedule. From flying techniques and gear to regulations and industry news, we cover it all

technology

All Episodes

18:53

YDQA: Ep 130- "Can You Fly Over People Without a...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/12/18

Can drone pilots legally fly over people under Part 107 without a waiver and what does Category 3 approval actually change?In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, host Chris Breedlove welcomes back Benton Szejk from Wingtra to break down the current state of operations over people in 2025. They cover what’s allowed under Part 107 today, how Category 3 works, and why Wingtra’s fully integrated parachute system is a major milestone for professional drone operations.The conversation

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22:21

YDQA: Ep 129- "What Is SLAM, and How Can Drone Pilots...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/12/11

In this week’s episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, host Chris Breedlove sits down with Stefan Hrabar of Emesent to unpack one of the most important emerging technologies in the drone world: SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping).What exactly is SLAM? How does SLAM LiDAR differ from traditional LiDAR systems? Can SLAM work without GPS? And—most importantly—how can drone pilots, mapping professionals, and service providers actually use SLAM-based payloads in real-life

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15:29

YDQA: Ep 128- "What Does It Take to Succeed at Cell...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/11/20

In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, we’re diving into one of the most in-demand (and misunderstood) drone inspection niches out there: cell tower inspections.Today’s question is this:👉 What are the real keys to success for drone pilots who want to work in the telecom inspection world?To tackle this topic, we are joined by Hunter Ardrey, a drone industry veteran who has spent years flying structural, utility, renewable energy, and telecom missions across the

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13:29

YDQA: Ep 127- "What Are the Most Surprising Thermal...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/11/13

In this week’s episode of Your Drone Questions Answered, brought to you by Drone Launch Academy, host Chris Breedlove sits down with Kayla McCoy of Wilkes County Soil & Water Conservation District in North Carolina to explore unexpected and innovative ways thermal drones are transforming conservation work.From monitoring rotational grazing systems and improving soil health policies to detecting hotspots in poultry composters and even locating hidden streams through dense foliage, Kayla

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19:45

YDQA: Ep 126- "Is Freefly’s Flux the First End-to-End...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/11/06

Welcome to Your Drone Questions. Answered from Drone Launch Academy. Host Chris Breedlove sits down with Tom Searing (Seiler GeoDrones) to tackle a hot late-2025 question: Can U.S. operators finally run a truly American-made, NDAA-friendly, end-to-end LiDAR stack—from airframe to sensor to workflow?What you’ll learn:What “end-to-end” LiDAR actually looks like for U.S. teams (airframe → payload → planning → processing → export)A quick tour of Flux payload options (H1 / O1 / L1) and when each

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12:39

YDQA: Ep 125- "Are Drones the Future of High School...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/10/30

In this episode of Your Drone Questions Answered, Drone Launch Academy founder David Young steps in to explore how drones are reshaping high school education across the U.S.David breaks down what Career and Technical Education (CTE) means, how industry-recognized credentials work, and why more states are adding the Part 107 drone license to their official CTE credential lists. You’ll learn:Which states are already funding drone programs for studentsHow schools are building full drone

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20:31

YDQA: Ep 124- "How Will New Drone Policies Impact the...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/10/09

In this week’s episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, host Chris Breedlove sits down with Will Dawson, attorney and founder of the Agricultural Drone Initiative (ADI), to explore how new federal policies could shape the future of agricultural drone use in the U.S.Will shares his journey from growing up on a seven-generation farm in Virginia to leading national advocacy for smarter drone regulations. Together, they unpack the ongoing DJI policy debate, the misconceptions around drone

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12:49

YDQA: Ep 123- "What’s the Difference Between OPUS and...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/10/02

Welcome back to Your Drone Questions. Answered, brought to you by Drone Launch Academy! This week, we’re diving into a listener-suggested topic: GNSS post-processing services. If you’re flying mapping missions and need to establish accurate base station coordinates for your PPK (post-processed kinematic) workflow, services like OPUS and Trimble CenterPoint RTX can be game-changers.In this episode, I break down:What GNSS post-processing services are and why they matter for drone pilotsA

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27:55

YDQA: Ep 122- "How Are Agricultural Spray Drones...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/09/25

In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, host Chris Breedlove sits down with Brandon Beal from Elevation Aerial Application to explore how UAV spraying drones are changing the future of agriculture. 🌱Brandon shares his journey from aviation into agriculture, explains how drones like the DJI T40 opened up scalable opportunities for farm spraying, and discusses the real-world impact drones are having on tree farms, row crops, and pastureland in Virginia.We dive into:Why drones are

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16:14

YDQA: Ep 121- "What Drone Repairs Can You Do Yourself?"

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/09/18

In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, host Chris Breedlove sits down with drone repair and FPV expert Wade Holbrook to explore the world of DIY repairs and custom builds.We cover:The easiest, most common drone repairs pilots can do themselvesMust-have tools and parts to keep in your go bag for fieldworkHow learning to solder can save you time (and money) on the jobThe pros and cons of building custom drones vs. buying off-the-shelf modelsInsights into open-source platforms,

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8:47

YDQA: Ep 120- "When Do You Actually Need a Remote...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/09/04

In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, Chris breaks down one of the most common sources of confusion for new drone operators: When do you really need a Remote Pilot Certificate under FAA rules?Chris walks through:FAA registration requirements and how they compare to Transport CanadaThe role of intent in determining whether an operation is recreational or non-recreationalRemote ID requirements for both micro drones and larger dronesPractical scenarios, including flying under

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13:44

YDQA: Ep 119- "Do You Really Need Drone Insurance?"

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/08/28

In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, Chris sits down with David Arnold from Bearing Insurance to break it all down from an agent’s perspective. David shares stories (including a drone nearly being shot out of the sky!), explains common exclusions in homeowners and commercial policies, and gives practical advice on how to protect yourself, your equipment, and your business.Whether you’re flying recreationally or running a drone business, this conversation will help you

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23:18

YDQA: Ep 119- "What Promising Trends Are Giving the...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/08/21

In this week’s episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, host Chris Breedlove sits down with Benton Szejk from Wingtra to talk about where the drone industry is headed.With all the uncertainty around regulations, supply chains, tariffs, and evolving executive orders, many drone pilots and professionals are wondering: what’s next? Benton shares insights from the manufacturer’s perspective on:-The impact of the Blue and Green lists for drone certification-Supply chain challenges and how

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13:02

YDQA: Ep 117- "What’s Really Going On with DJI Drones...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/08/14

In this episode of Your Drone Questions Answered, Chris dives into the current state of play with DJI drones in the U.S. — from the impact of the 2025 NDAA to the inconsistent enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Drawing on years of experience in drone distribution, Chris shares behind-the-scenes insights on customs delays, shipment inconsistencies, and what this could mean for drone buyers, businesses, and hobbyists alike.We’ll cover:-Why DJI shipments have been

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29:45

YDQA: Ep 116- "How to Assess the Accuracy of Your...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/08/07

In this episode, David teams up with licensed land surveyor and aerial mapping expert Michael Detwiler to break down how to assess the accuracy of your drone mapping projects—step by step.Using real-world data from two WingtraOne Gen II drone flights (including a park survey and an orange grove redevelopment), they review:-How to interpret accuracy reports from Wingtra and Pix4D-What RMS error means in practice—and why it matters-How many GCPs and checkpoints you really need-Common pitfalls

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23:16

YDQA: Ep 115- "What are the Challenges of Using...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/07/31

In this episode of Your Drone Questions Answered, host Chris Breedlove welcomes Troy Walton and Susan Cohen from the Carolina Drone Lab at UNC Chapel Hill to explore the complex realities of using drones for natural resources and environmental management.Topics include:Navigating drone regulations and approval chains on military basesAdapting to shifting drone compliance lists (Blue List, Green List, NDAA rules)Tool selection challenges and the rising cost of specialized

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16:26

YDQA: Ep 114- "Why Does Crew Resource Management...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/07/24

How does Crew Resource Management (CRM) — a core aviation principle — apply to drone teams in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry? In this episode, host Chris Breedlove welcomes Aaron Varnau from WithersRavenel to explore the real-world application of CRM in daily drone operations.Aaron shares his journey from studying Unmanned Aerial Systems at Purdue to coordinating remote sensing crews. He breaks down how CRM helps teams:-Avoid costly mistakes through clear

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23:32

YDQA: Ep 113- "How Are Drones Used For Cutting-Edge...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/07/17

In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, host Chris Breedlove talks with Josh Matheson from Duke University’s Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Lab. They explore how affordable, off-the-shelf drones like the DJI Phantom and Mavic series are being used in groundbreaking science—from tracking elephant health in Zambia, to monitoring shark behavior with AI, to modeling oyster reefs and 3D mapping seals and whales.Josh shares real-world stories of students and researchers using

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21:50

YDQA: Ep 112- "How Do Sub-250g Drones Empower The...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/07/10

Discover how lightweight drones like the DJI Mini series are revolutionizing spatial AI and creating unprecedented opportunities for drone pilots worldwide!🎯 What You'll Learn:Why sub-250g drones are the secret weapon for urban mappingHow Spexi's standardized drone network has captured 3.5+ million acresThe regulatory advantages of micro drones in different countriesReal-world applications from emergency response to gaming/metaverseHow drone pilots are earning $300-600+ per day

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21:21

YDQA: Ep 111- " Are Ground Control Points Necessary...

Your Drone Questions. Answered. ·

2025/07/03

Join host Chris Breedlove as he welcomes back Calvin Rikard, public safety specialist at Duncan -Parnell and former South Carolina Highway Patrol collision reconstruction expert, for a critical discussion about ground control points (GCPs) in drone surveying and documentation.What You'll Learn:✅ The shocking reality of how inaccurate drone data can be WITHOUT ground control points✅ Real case studies from major incident investigations (including a train crash and fatal collision)✅ The

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130 results

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