Ask Drone U

Today's show is about renewing your Part 107 certificate in the wake of COVID. With most CATS centers shut down due to a second lockdown, how can drone pilots renew their Part 107 certificate? In normal circumstances, Part 107 pilots need to visit a testing center to renew their Part 107 certificate. However, this renewal procedure has changed in the wake of covid. With many areas announcing second lockdowns and with the FAA yet to issues any new directives, how can you remain current with your Part 107? Paul shares some great tips to help you out. If you found this show interesting, you might want to check out our post, FAA Updates Part 107 Recurrence Exam Protocols where we share step-by-step instructions for renewing your Part 107 during covid. Whether you are just getting started or looking to increase your revenue stream, our drone service providers are ready to help you achieve your most ambitious goals. Check out all our classes for 2020 by going here - http://bit.ly/mapclass2020 Recent

Drone Gift Ideas for Christmas |DJI Mavic Mini 2 Our question today is about the DJI Mavic Mini 2. You will learn why this newly launched, sub-250 gram micro-drone is the BEST drone that you can buy for your kids (PERIOD!). An ADU listener needs our help. He is thinking of buying a drone for his kid, and is totally confused by the myriad of options. So, what would you look for in a drone that you are buying as a gift for your kid? Ability to take great pictures? Safe to fly? Awesome features? What if we told you that there is a new drone that has all of this (and more) to offer? That's right. DJI's newest drone, the DJI Mavic Mini 2 is a massive improvement over the original Mini. This new DJI drone comes with 4K capabilities and Occusync 2.0. Moreover, because this drone weighs less than 250 grams, there is no need to register this drone with the FAA - which means that you are in no way risking your child's privacy. If you are planning on getting your kid a cool gift, we strongly recommend you

Today's question is about getting your Wide Area Airspace Authorization (WAAS). Do you need WAAS if you are planning on flying in controlled airspace at twilight? Our caller for today, Kevin has come up with a great question that has not been asked on Ask Drone U before. Kevin's question is about getting approval to fly in controlled airspace at twilight. Recently, while flying a job for Amazon, Kevin was unable to get LAANC approval for the same. So, in this scenario, do you need to apply for your Wide Airspace Authorization? And, what steps can you take to improve your chances of getting your WAAS? Tune in to find out. Thanks for the great quesiton, Kevin. Fly Safe! Whether you are just getting started or looking to increase your revenue stream, our drone service providers are ready to help you achieve your most ambitious goals. Check out all our classes for 2020 by going here - http://bit.ly/mapclass2020 Now, you can also get a special 10% discount on any of our 2020 classes by using the coupon

Today's question is about getting airspace approval from an airport that is not LAANC-enabled. Our caller for today, Chris has a question about getting permission to fly near an airport without LAANC. As per the FAA, getting airspace approval from a non-LAANC enabled airport can take up to 90 days. Clearly, this is not a feasible timeframe for most drone pilots. So, is there any way to speed up the approval process? Paul reveals how cultivating relationships with the ATC can possibly help Chris out. Thanks for the great question. Fly Safe! Whether you are just getting started or looking to increase your revenue stream, our drone service providers are ready to help you achieve your most ambitious goals. Check out all our classes for 2020 by going here - http://bit.ly/mapclass2020 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 a

Today's show is about fixing your drone after a crash. What is the best and most reliable place to get your drone fixed in event of a crash? Our caller for today, Jon bought a new Phantom 3 Advanced and crashed it soon after. Jon is looking for some recommendations to get his drone fixed. How can you figure out the extent of damage on your drone after a crash? Should you attempt to fix your drone at home? Or, is this something that you should leave to a retailer or technician? Additionally, we also recommend some good drone insurance options to help Jon out. We hope you enjoy this show. Fly Safe! Whether you are just getting started or looking to increase your revenue stream, our drone service providers are ready to help you achieve your most ambitious goals. Check out all our classes for 2020 by going here - http://bit.ly/mapclass2020 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

DJI Mavic Mini 2, DJI Mavic Mini 2 Specs, DJI Mavic Mini vs. Mavic Mini 2 Our biggest story this week is about the DJI Mavic Mini 2. DJI has launched this new drone which is a significant improvement over the original Mini. The new Mavic Mini 2 comes with 4K capabilities and Occusync - features originally found in more expensive drones like the Mavic 2 Pro. Additionally, Haye managed to get his hands on this new drone and compared the drone footage with the original Mini. Can you replace your Mavic 2 Pro with this new DJI drone? Are there are any legal advantages to flying drones weighing less than 250 grams? With remote-id round the corner, are you better off investing in this micro-drone? Tune in to find out. Other stories covered in today's include that of a Mavic 2 Pro crash due to a faulty battery, and how an NJ town is putting flight restrictions on drone pilots Enjoy! Whether you are just getting started or looking to increase your revenue stream, our drone service providers are ready t

Drone Crash | How To Avoid Getting into Vortex Ring State Today's question is about getting your drone into a vortex ring state and crashing your drone. As drone technology becomes more and more sophisticated, do you need to worry about getting into a vortex ring state at all? Our caller for today, Sean is a regular ADU listener and has listened to us talk about the dangers of getting your drone into a vortex ring state many times in the past. Now, Sean flies a Mavic 2 Pro, and he is wondering if the risk of getting into a vortex ring state is signficantly reduced for pilots like him who fly a small drone. Great question, Sean. To best answer this question, we first get to the basics and reveal some little-known variables that can cause a drone to get into vortex ring state. However, were you to get into this situation, how can you avoid a drone crash? Will using some specific props or flying over water significantly increase the risk of getting into a vortex ring state? Can increasing elevation

Today's quesiton is about drone remote id and micro-drones like the DJI Mavic Mini 2. Our caller for today, Adam has a question about Remote ID. If you are a regular ADU listener, you might be aware of this contentious issue that will greatly impact the drone industry as a whole. Now, Adam is wondering if he needs to comply with these restrictive remote-id rules at all if he flies a micro-drone weighing less than 250 grams. DJI recently launched the DJI Mavic Mini 2 which comes with 4K capabilities and Occusync. Additionally, as per industry rumors, their soon-to-be-released FPV drone shall weigh less than 250 grams as well. So, will these new remote id rules be applicable to drone pilots flying these sub-250 gram micro drones? Do Part 107 rules apply to drone pilots who are flying these micro-drones for commercial purposes? Tune in to find out. Thanks for the great questIon, Adam. Fly Safe! Whether you are just getting started or looking to increase your revenue stream, our drone service pr

Today's question is about drone mapping. What are some deliverables that you can offer without scale constraints and GCP's? Our caller for today, Marc has come up with a great question about drone mapping. Specifically, Marc is wondering if there are any drone mapping uses that do not require the use of GCP's and scale constraints. As you may be aware, marking GCP's requires expensive GPS equipment costing thousands of dollars. Can you venture into drone mapping even if you are not in a position to make this investment? Topics discussed in this show include drones for historical preservation, for creating interative models, for processing insurance claims, and much, much more… Enjoy! Whether you are just getting started or looking to increase your revenue stream, our drone service providers are ready to help you achieve your most ambitious goals. Check out all our classes for 2020 by going here - http://bit.ly/mapclass2020 Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can

Today's question is about drone mapping opportunities for DSP's in large organizations. Are large organizations more prone to training in-house drone teams? Our caller for today, Michael has a question about drone mapping. Specifically, Michael is wondering if large businesses are prone to hiring drone service providers for their mapping jobs or not. Are large organizations more likely to develop their in-house drone teams? Whether you are thinking of getting into drone mapping or an established mapper, listening to this show will give some interesting perspectives. Whether you are just getting started or looking to increase your revenue stream, our drone service providers are ready to help you achieve your most ambitious goals. Check out all our classes for 2020 by going here - http://bit.ly/mapclass2020 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 dro

Today's question is about using drone mapping for digitally recreating historical buildings and streets. Our caller, Robert has come up with a unique question that has not been asked on ADU before. Robert's question is about digital reconstruction. Robert is wondering if he can use drone mapping to digitally recreate the old era via visual story-telling. Certainly, this is an excellent idea. Visual story-telling is one of the best ways to preserve our history and culture. But, is this even posisble? Paul recommends some workflows and software to help Robert out. Thanks for the great question, Robert. Fly Safe! Whether you are just getting started or looking to increase your revenue stream, our drone service providers are ready to help you achieve your most ambitious goals. Check out all our classes for 2020 by going here - http://bit.ly/mapclass2020 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

Today's show is about pricing strategies for drone pilots. How can you negotiate with a client, and avoid getting underpaid for your services? Our caller for today, John is just starting out. Luckily, he managed to bag a huge drone job which involves taking aerial shots, drone mapping, and creating progression reports. What are the typical rates for such deliverables? What are some pricing strategies that John should follow to get what he truly deserves? Great question. And one that drone pilots often ask us. There is no cookie-cutter answer when it comes to pricing for your drone services as there are many variables that come into play. For instance, is it a capital-intensive job? Will you have to invest in expensive drone equipment/accessories to complete the job? Once you determine this, how do you compute your hourly rate or job rate? Additionally, you will also learn how confidence and good negotiation skills can help you get what you truly deserve. Thanks for the great question, John. Fly Safe!

Today's question is about dealing with unscrupulous clients who refuse to pay up. Are there any legal steps that you can take that will force your client to pay up even after you deliver your drone footage? Our caller, Roy from Salt Lake City has come up with a question that has not been asked on ADU before. His client is refusing to pay up even though he is using Roy's copyrighted images to market his business. Not surprisingly, the client is avoiding Roy's calls and refusing to respond back to his emails. Is there anything that Roy can do to force his client into action? We discuss charging upfront, tracking misuse of copyrighted images, and filing a complaint with the DMCA. Thanks for the great question, Roy. Fly Safe! Whether you are just getting started or looking to increase your revenue stream, our drone service providers are ready to help you achieve your most ambitious goals. Check out all our classes for 2020 by going here - http://bit.ly/mapclass2020 Recently crashed your drone? Unable

DJI Mavic Mini 2 Important Updates, DOD Releases List of Approved Drone Manufacturers in Their Blue sUAS Program, Drones for Environmental Conservation, Drones for Good Our biggest story this week is about the National Defense Authorization Act which bans the use of "Chinese Drones" for federal use. Now, DOD has released a list of approved drone manufacturers courtesy of their Blue sUAS program, and drone manufacturer's like ANAFI and Skydio have made the cut. Ironically, while these drones are not assembled in China, they do use Chinese parts, and we can't help but question the wisdom behind this move. Especially, do you think that ANAFI and Skydio can match up to DJI in terms of performance and affordability? And with Skydio dealing with major production issues, are they in a position to cater to DOD's requirements? Our next story is about the new DJI drones that are likely to be launched in 2020. In this segment of the show, we share the latest industry updates for DJI Mavic Mini 2 and DJI's ne

DJI Mavic Mini 2 Updates, Skydio 2 For Drone Mapping?, FireFighting Drones, DJI News, DJI Rumors Our biggest story this week is about the DJI Mavic Mini 2. Regular ADU listeners might recall that last week we had shared some industry reports which revealed how DJI was planning to come out with a 4K-enabled, DJI Mavic 2. Apparently drone billionaire and DJI boss, Frank Wong is unhappy with the video quality on the DJI's sub-250 gram drone, the Mini. In today's show, we share some more updates from DJI's FCC filings. Our next story is about Skydio 2. Recently, Skydio procured a waiver to fly BVLOS for the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). But, while the Skydio has some awesome autonomous flying capabilities, is it a good drone for mapping? Can you efficiently conduct mapping operations with a drone that has a small, rolling shutter? If you found this story interesting, you might want to check out our blog post, Who Will Build the Next Honda Civic of Drones?. In this post, we reveal w

Today's show is about drone crashes. Specifically, ADU co-host, Rob shares how he ended up crashing his drone last week, and some of the biggest lessons that he learned from this. After so many years of hosting ADU, the flying bug has finally bit Rob. Last week, Rob was our flying in beautiful New Mexico when he crashed his Mavic 2 Pro into a tree. In today's show, Rob shares his experience and reveals some of the biggest lessons that he learned from this experience. Towards the end, Paul chimes in, and reveals some interesting information about all the drone crashes that he has had over the years. Tune in to this special show now! Whether you are just getting started or looking to increase your revenue stream, our drone service providers are ready to help you achieve your most ambitious goals. Check out all our classes for 2020 by going here - http://bit.ly/mapclass2020 Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can repair your drone quickly and at a reasonable rate? Don

Our biggest story this week is about the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. This act will ban the use of Chinese drones as well as Chinese-made drone parts for federal use. The passage of this act will not just affect DJI but also other popular manufacturers like Skydio, 3DR and GoPro. With manufacturing being the Chinese's strong suit, do you think that this ban is a wise move? Do you think an American competitor can step up to cater to the needs of the drone industry? Our next story is about drone deliveries. Archaic drone regulations means that we cannot fly over people or fly BVLOS. Because of these and many more restrictions, the drone delivery industry in US has failed to truly take flight. Additionally, because of this, American drone manufacturers are setting up shop in Australia and even Africa where the drone laws are far more progressive. Is the FAA failing to move in tandem with the changing times? Do we need a dedicated agency for unmanned aviation? Let us know what you think. Other t

DJI Mavic 3 announced, DJI Mavic Mini release date, Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Police Drones being used as first responders, Phantom 4 Pro Production Updates Our biggest news this week is about the DJI Mavic 3. You heard that right. DJI is all set to come out with a successor to their wildly successful flagship drone, Mavic 2 Pro. To be released in January 2020, the Mavic 3 will come with 4K60 and ADS-B receivers. It is certainly no small coincidence that DJI chose to "leak" the news of a new drone right after the launch of the Skydio R2. But, considering the R2's impressive autonomous capabilities, it remains to be seen if DJI can up the ante, yet again with the Mavic 3. Our second news story is about the DJI Mavic Mini. The big selling point for this soon-to-be-released drone is that it weighs just 245 grams. As we have discussed on this show before, drones weighing less than 245 grams need NOT be registered with the FAA. But, does this mean that you can fly these drones without following any drone laws?