FAA Part 108, BVLOS, and Drone Fleet Management Software | Ask Drone U with Brandon Del Priore (ThinkPower)
In this episode of Ask Drone U, host Paul sits down with Brandon Priore of Think Power Solutions to dive deep into the real-world operational challenges facing large-scale enterprise and utility drone programs. Coming off industry events like Skydio Ascend and Commercial UAV Expo, Brandon breaks down where modern drone hardware stands—from Skydio’s DFR-focused F10 and Dock ecosystem to Brinc’s hot-swapping drone platforms—and the economic reality of hardware pricing versus scalability.
They examine how impending FAA regulations, including Part 108, Part 146, and Section 2209, will transform BVLOS operations and mandate airspace deconfliction between crewed aircraft, helicopters, and multi-contractor drone fleets. Brandon also demonstrates ThinkPower’s proprietary TPS Map Engine, an aviation-focused workspace designed to replace legacy tools like Google Earth. The platform enables live ADS-B tracking, dashcam telematics, wildfire cameras, coordinate transforms, and automated flight deconfliction reports.
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Timestamps
[00:54] — Takeaways from Skydio Ascend: Software, F10, and DFR focus
[02:40] — Commercial drone hardware pricing and the US supply chain challenge
[04:47] — Dock systems: Skydio Dock vs. Brinc’s Guardian carousel platform
[07:54] — Drone economics: $2M autonomous systems vs. crewed aircraft and helicopters
[09:30] — The sensor gap: American payloads vs. DJI Enterprise platforms
[11:55] — Scaling utility programs: Wildfire mitigation and post-Camp Fire evolution
[14:50] — Work scheduling and logistics across thousands of utility structures
[16:45] — The airspace deconfliction dilemma under Part 108 and Section 2209
[19:00] — The Google Earth phase-out and the need for enterprise mapping alternatives
[21:05] — Demo: ThinkPower TPS Map Engine overview and live data integration
[23:15] — 3D flight paths, dashcam feeds, and pilot tracking in the field
[26:10] — Generating automated airspace deconfliction reports and situation reports
[29:15] — GIS compatibility, coordinate systems (WGS84), and custom toolkits
[31:10] —Lightning round: Industry predictions on Part 108 timing, supply chain sustainability, and manufacturer outlook
