In today’s episode we analyze the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. How will this Act impact our drone industry? We do a DEEP DIVE to discuss all facets (both good and bad).

It is a momentous day for drone industry – The FAA Reauthorization Act has been finally passed by Senate. So, how does this Act impact you? If you are a hobby pilot, there is a lot that you need to know about how this Act will affect you. We also discuss if drone deliveries will finally set flight.

Other pertinent issues that we discuss are waivers and airspace authorizations, safety and security and UTM implementation. You will also learn about the soon to be launched DJI’s LAANC system. Does this pose any security threats? Tune in to this information packed episode. Fly Safe!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

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Timestamps

• [00:42] Interesting drone stories  from last week
• [01:12] Check out our 34 awesome course for just $1
• [01:32] Senate passes the 2018 Reauthorization Bill
• [02:12] Important facets of the 2018 Reauthorization Bill
• [02:53] Will drone delivery and Amazon Prime Air be a reality now?
• [03:26] What does the new Reauthorization Bill mean for hobbyists?
• [05:14] Will hobby pilots have to take an online test now?
• [06:15] Do things change for institutes for higher education?
• [07:03] Will the approval of waivers and airspace authorizations become easier now?
• [09:50] Analyzing how this new Act affects the airspace rights of tribal governments
• [10:55] Discussing how the new Bill address privacy issues; how does it mean for counter drone systems?
• [11:43] Will folks who use drones equipped with weapons be dealt with strictly?
• [13:39] Will enforcement become stricter now?
• [14:35] What about UTM implementation?
• [16:17] How does this new Act address safety and security threats?
• [17:12] Is the Department of Education’s proposed 2 year program a good idea?
• [18:26] Learn about DJI’s soon to be launched LAANC system; Can this cause a  security threat?

Today’s show is about pricing strategies in drone mapping. What is the optimum workflow for driving efficiencies and profitability in drone mapping?

Our caller, Mark is elated on the prospect of executing his first mapping project – a 2 acre commercial box store. But at the same time, Mark is unsure how much he should charge for his drone services. In order to help Mark achieve clarity, we touch upon all major aspects like workflow, equipment and expenses.

How does Mark ensure that his client can easily interact with the map/model? And, how can he achieve survey grade accuracy? We discuss how Mark can accurately set GCP’s. And we compare different GPS units to suggest the best option for Mark.

In this show you will learn about the various factors that you need to consider while bidding for a complex mapping project. Whether you are a new to the drone business or an established player, this short episode is loaded with some great nuggets guaranteed to give you the competitive edge. Thanks to Mark for the question. Fly Safe!

Make sure to get yourself a Drone U landing pad!

Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can repair your drone quickly and at a reasonable rate? Don’t fret. The cool folks at Fortress UAV can help you get your drone back up in the air in as little as 7 days! Use Promo Code “DroneU” to get 10% off. Check them out now!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Become a Drone U Member. Try us out for 14 days and access over 30 courses, including Part 107 training, plus our amazing community for $1.

Follow us:
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Get your copy of “Livin’ the Drone Life” – //amzn.to/2nalUDH
Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide – //amzn.to/2omQatT
Check out our forthcoming Mapping Classes – //bit.ly/DroneMappingClasses

Timestamps

• [00:18] Learn about our in-person mapping classes
• [01:44] The Drone U Business Course is up on the site – Check it out now!
• [02:53] Today’s question is about drone mapping workflow and pricing strategies
• [03:52] Paul shares quality his experience of working with a the RTK-GPS enabled Leica rover station
• [04:29] Various factors to consider while making a client deliverable
• [04:38] Learn how your client can interact with your maps and models using Pix4D cloud
• [05:34] Can you expect clients to take measurements off your drone model?
• [05:45] How to set GCP’s to arrive at survey grade accuracy
• [06:59] Is it a good idea to remotely connect to a mapping class?
• [07:50] The importance of marking Manual Tie Points (MTP’s) in the correct manner
• [10:11] What are the various expenses that you need to consider while bidding for a complex mapping project?
• [10:35] How do Aeropoints compare to Trimble with regards to ease of use and accuracy?
• [11:42] Are there any issues with using EmLid’s Reach RTK unit?
• [12:01] Learn how net connectivity in Trimble’s GPS unit helps eliminate errors
• [13:02] How much will it cost you to rent a Leica RTK system?
• [13:48] How much should Mark bid for the project?
• [14:37] Worried about crashing your drone? Our newest sponsor, Fortress UAV can help you out
• [16:30] Should Mark charge on an hourly basis or by line item?
• [16:44] How long will it take you to acquire mapping data for a complex project?
• [18:43] Discussing the need to factor in opportunity cost or sunk cost while bidding on a project
• [19:09] Should you try and match the bid of drone jobbing companies like Dronebase and Uplift?
• [20:04] How much should Mark charge? And can he justify this cost?
• [21:08] How long will the point cloud clean up take Mark?
• [22:47] What are the advantages of using a drone survey over a traditional topographic survey?
• [25:01] Does Mark need to provide a detailed justification about his price?
• [26:00] Learn about our upcoming mapping class in Austin, Texas

Today’s question is about achieving good work-life balance. Managing our personal and professional lives is a daily struggle for most of us. Is it possible to grow your drone business without compromising your family life?

Our caller, Josh from UK has come up with an interesting and highly relevant question. Like most of you, Josh is willing to go the extra mile to build his drone business. However, he wishes to achieve success without compromising on his personal life. Is work-life balance possible for folks like Josh who are scaling up their drone business?

Rob and Paul reveal how they manage their hectic work commitments without compromising on their family time. Thanks to Josh from UK for the great question. Fly Safe!

Make sure to get yourself a Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Follow us:
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Get your copy of “Livin’ the Drone Life” – //amzn.to/2nalUDH
Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide – //amzn.to/2omQatT

Timestamps

• [01:13] How can Drone U help you clear your Part 107 recency
• [01:28] Today’s Part 107 Practice Question
• [02:15] Today’s question is about better work-life balance
• [04:45] Why is it critical that you love what you do?
• [06:17] The importance of staying healthy while you develop your drone business
• [06:54] Learning to draw boundaries between the personal and professional
• [09:02] Cultivating flexibility can help you better manage your commitments
• [10:06] Paul and Rob sum up the entire episode

How Do You Fight Back Drone Jobbing Companies Like Drone Base and Uplift That Are Trying to Poach Your Clients?

Today’s question is about drone jobbing companies. How do you deal with companies like DroneBase and Uplift who are trying to lure away clients by offering dirt cheap services?

Our caller, Kevin has been a drone pilot since the past 5 years. Kevin is worried that drone jobbing companies might poach his clients. What strategies can Kevin employ to retain his clients?

Paul and Rob reveal how client relationships, flawless service and ironclad systems and processes can help you to not only retain your new clients – but also to find new ones. Thanks to Kevin for the great question. Fly Safe!

Make sure to get yourself a Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Follow us:
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Get your copy of “Livin’ the Drone Life” – //amzn.to/2nalUDH
Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide – //amzn.to/2omQatT
Check out our forthcoming Mapping Classes – //bit.ly/DroneMappingClasses

Timestamps

• [01:05] Learn how you can get access to 33 comprehensive courses for just $1
• [01:21] Today’s Part 107 practice question
• [04:17] Today’s question is about drone jobbing companies
• [05:41] Strategies that can help you fight back jobbing companies and retain your clients
• [06:25] Paul talks of his experience with Drone Base when they tried to poach his client
• [07:54] Networking techniques that drone pilots can learn from jobbing companies; we discuss the importance of showing appreciation
• [11:56] The importance of keep it real when marketing your services
• [12:07] Should you spend your energies in educating your client?
• [14:23] The need to increase your efficiency levels in order to stay ahead of the competition
• [16:18] Lessons from drone jobbing companies which will help you stay ahead of the pack
• [16:49] Understanding pricing strategies and client psyche
• [18:04] Check out our forthcoming mapping classes

Today we have a two part question. The first part is about the benefit (if any) of advertising a private pilot license. The second part is about carbon fiber blades.

Our caller is a manned pilot who has just ventured into the drone business. He is wondering if using carbon fiber blades on his Phantom 4 Pro can help him in any way. Paul deep dives into this topic and we suggest all possible pros and cons that our caller needs to be aware of.

The second part of this question is about using your private pilot license to market your drone business. Is this a good idea? Rob and Paul are in different camps on this one. Tune in to find out if they manage to arrive at a consensus. Thanks to the caller for the wonderful question. Fly Safe!

Make sure to get yourself a Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Follow us:
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Get your copy of “Livin’ the Drone Life” – //amzn.to/2nalUDH
Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide – //amzn.to/2omQatT

Timestamps

• [00:57] How can Drone U help you clear your Part 107 recency exam
• [01:40] Today’s Part 107 Practice question
• [03:04] Today we have a two part question – we discuss if you should advertise your private pilot license; the second part is about using carbon fiber props
• [03:58] What are the pros and cons of using carbon fiber props?
• [05:08] Should you use carbon fiber props for Inspires and hexacopters?
• [06:06] Will using carbon fiber props make your drone quieter?
• [08:31] What does Paul think about using a private pilot license to market your drone business?
• [11:47] Does Rob agree with Paul on this topic?

Today’s question is about scaling up your drone business. What steps do you need to take in order to transition from a one man show to a larger organization?

Our caller, Josh is in a dilemma. Like many of his counterparts, Josh owns a flourishing drone business. However, because he is running his drone business as a one man show, he is unable to grow beyond a certain level. Should he hire folks to help him out so that he concentrate on developing more lucrative industry verticals? While this is the right thing to do, there is also a need to tread with caution.

We discuss how prudent hiring practices, proper systems and thorough planning is critical if you are take your business to greater heights. Thanks to Josh from UK for the great question. Fly Safe!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Follow us:
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Get your copy of “Livin’ the Drone Life” – //amzn.to/2nalUDH
Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide – //amzn.to/2omQatT
Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It…and Why the Rest Don’t (Rockefeller Habits 2.0) – https://amzn.to/2NGaxlK

Timestamps

• [01:34] Today’s Part 107 Practice Question
• [02:30] Today’s question is about scaling up your drone business
• [03:34] Learn about our new Drone Business Course
• [03:44] Steps to take into consideration when scaling up your drone business
• [04:54] How to hire the right person for your drone business
• [07:04] Should you hire a specialist in the initial years of your drone business?
• [07:29] Important to maintain an unwavering focus on sales
• [08:14] Should you plan out every aspect of your business before you set the ball rolling?
• [13:04] Why is it critical to have ironclad systems before you scale up your drone business
• [13:23] The need to move away from being a sole proprietor
• [14:27] Documenting your systems is critical for proper implementation
• [14:57] We share a great resource for documenting your plans and systems
• [17:21] Paul and Rob sum up the entire episode

Today’s episode is about using your drone for an investigative business. Are you abiding with the law if you use your drone for an investigation?

Our caller, Chris from Miami has come up with a question that many you must be wondering about. Chris has received an offer to fly his drone over a private property in order to conduct some investigations. Does the law permit Chris to do so?

We discuss the various Do’s and Don’ts that you need to be aware of. Thanks to Chris for the great question. Fly Safe!

Make sure to get yourself a Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Follow us:
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Get your copy of “Livin’ the Drone Life” – //amzn.to/2nalUDH
Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide – //amzn.to/2omQatT
Learn about our upcoming in-person classes – https://www.thedroneu.com/droneu-events/

Timestamps

• [01:31] Get access to 33 awesome Drone U courses for just $1
• [01:59] Today’s Part 107 Practice question
• [03:38] Today’s Question is about flying your drone over a private property in order to conduct an investigation
• [04:50] Learn about our upcoming in-person classes
• [07:23] Can Chris take pictures of a private property for conducting an investigation?
• [08:26] Can you take off from a private property?
• [09:02] Is it morally correct to use your drone for an investigation?

Today’s question is about filming a golf course. What pricing strategies and flying techniques should you use while flying a golf course? We have some great Tips and Tricks just for you.

Our caller, Ivan from Las Vegas is working at a high end country club. Because Ivan is Part 107 certified, his employers have approached him to make a marketing video. What pricing strategies should Ivan employ? Does he need to set up a LLC before he starts working on his first job?

We also discuss some flying techniques that will help Ivan do a great job. Thanks to Ivan for the question. Fly Safe!

Make sure to get yourself a Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Follow us:
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Get your copy of “Livin’ the Drone Life” – //amzn.to/2nalUDH
Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide – //amzn.to/2omQatT

Timestamps

• [00:56] Should you delay renewing your Part 107 license till the last moment?
• [02:12] Today’s Part 107 Practice Question
• [03:18] Today’s question is about filming a golf course
• [04:27] Expert Tips for filming a golf course
• [04:57] How to successfully outsource editing of your drone footage
• [05:17] Flying techniques that will help you grab some great footage
• [06:13] Discussing pricing strategies; should you opt for package pricing?
• [08:41] Is it a good idea to augment your aerials with ground shots
• [09:22] How to register your drone business as a LLC

What Are the Benefits of Using Applications like Litchi and Autopilot?

Today’s question is about the Litchi application. Should you use apps like Litchi and Autopilot to set waypoints? Are there any other applications that you can use?

Our caller, Josh from UK has come up with a question that many of you must be wondering about. Does using applications like Litchi and Autopilot simplify your flying experience and allow you to capture better shots? We reveal the benefits of using these applications. We also discuss if other applications like UGCS and DJI GS Pro compare well with Litchi.

We wrap up this show with some great Tips and Tricks that are sure to help you in your business. Thanks to Josh for the great question. Fly Safe!

Make sure to get yourself a Drone U landing pad!

Don’t forget to pick up a charger from Colorado Drone Chargers. These guys make high-quality quadchargers to help you maximize your flight time. Use discount code Drone U 8 to get yourself a killer deal!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Follow us:
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Get your copy of “Livin’ the Drone Life” – //amzn.to/2nalUDH
Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide – //amzn.to/2omQatT
Get your weBoost Drive (Cell Signal Booster) – https://amzn.to/2xBvvHr

Timestamps

• [01:28] Learn about our cool sponsor, Colorado Drone Chargers
• [03:06] Today’s question is about applications like Litchi and Autopilot
• [04:47] Which apps are compatible with CrystalSky?
• [05:07] Have drone pilots had a positive experience with Litchi so far?
• [06:00] What are some benefits of using Litchi? Are there any comparable applications?
• [06:34] How does UGCS compare to Litchi?
• [07:03] Discussing the importance of backing up your data
• [07:26] Are there any issues with with using DJI GS Pro?
• [07:40] The importance of terrain awareness when experiencing extreme elevation gain
• [08:27] How can you get cell service in undeveloped areas with poor signal? We share some excellent resources
• [10:05] How to set your MOCA on a mapping mission
• [12:14] What is the benefit of using Litchi when doing orbits on a mapping mission?
• [12:46] Learn how you can become a Drone U member for just $1

Today’s episode is about renewing your airspace authorization. With LAANC in place, do you really need to renew your airspace authorization? We have some great Tips just for you.

Airspace authorizations granted outside of Dronezone or LAANC are set to expire soon. So, if you are in this same boat, should you go for an airspace authorization renewal? With LAANC already launched nationwide, does renewing your airspace authorization really make sense? Have any airports been redacted from LAANC?

We dive into the nitty gritty of this topic. Tune in now to learn all there is to know about renewing your airspace authorization. Fly Safe!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Follow us:
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Get your copy of “Livin’ the Drone Life” – //amzn.to/2nalUDH
Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide – //amzn.to/2omQatT

Timestamps

• [01:58] Learn about our forthcoming Search & Rescue class
• [02:39] Discussing Shane’s awesome SAR software, “Locate” which was recently featured on CNN
• [03:16] Is your airspace authorization expiring shortly?
• [04:30] Steps for renewing airspace authorizations availed outside Dronezone portal or LAANC
• [04:56] Can you avail a wide area or long term authorization on DroneZone?
• [05:20] What is the current status of the LAANC system?
• [06:37] Should you be extending your wide area authorization?
• [09:07] How many cities are a part of the LAANC system? Are there any cities which have been redacted from the LAANC system?
• [10:30] Get your Drone U membership for just $1! Do not miss out!