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21 August 2025
By Dawn Zoldi
As autonomous systems increasingly reshape industries and society writ large, a new platform has stepped up to give the global autonomy community its own digital stage. The <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.autonomyglobal.co/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Autonomy Global (AG)</a> media site has officially expanded to YouTube with the <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.youtube.com/@AutonomyGlobal/featured" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Autonomy Global Network (AGN)</a>. Promising to become a leading video hub for industry news, in-depth analysis and engaging video content, this channel is dedicated entirely to the autonomy ecosystem, with an emphasis on drones.
The July launch of AGN marks the latest milestone in an ambitious venture originally envisioned by retired USAF colonel, attorney and tech thought leader <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnzoldi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dawn Zoldi</a>, CEO of <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.p3techconsulting.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">P3 Tech Consulting</a> and Publisher for Autonomy Global.
&ldquo;Autonomy is a global movement,&rdquo; Zoldi explained. &ldquo;Leaders, innovators, and visionaries in this space need a dedicated platform to share knowledge, ideas and cutting-edge developments. That&rsquo;s what AGN provides&mdash;a home for the autonomy ecosystem, accessible to anyone, anywhere.&rdquo;
<h5>A Growing Multimedia Ecosystem</h5>
The new YouTube channel is more than just a video series. It&rsquo;s part of an expanding digital media enterprise under the Autonomy Global Network brand. Earlier this year, AGN rolled out its multilingual online hub, featuring original articles, news updates, podcasts and a curated global event calendar, all offered in 15 languages to serve a truly global audience.
Now, the YouTube component deepens that vision by delivering content in an engaging, on-demand format. In partnership with producer and technical advisor Mike Pehel of UpStreem, AGN intends to blend expert commentary, livestream coverage, educational programming, and exclusive partner collaborations into one cohesive experience&mdash;all tied to the AG website.
According to Zoldi, AGN was a natural next step in the AG evolution. &ldquo;We know that the way people consume information is evolving. Video not only connects on a human level&mdash;it allows us to amplify voices across geographies and disciplines in ways written content alone cannot. AGN&rsquo;s YouTube platform is designed to do just that.&rdquo;
<h5>What Viewers Can Expect</h5>
The AGN YouTube channel contains a dynamic mix of original programming, including:
<ul>
<li>Expert Interviews &ndash; conversations with policymakers, innovators and industry leaders shaping the future of autonomy. </li>
<li>Educational Series &ndash; practical insights into regulatory landscapes, legal frameworks and operational best practices. </li>
<li>Event Coverage &ndash; on-the-ground reporting from global conferences, trade shows and tech showcases. </li>
<li>Community &amp; Tech Spotlights &ndash; profiles of inspiring projects, startups and collaborations in autonomy.</li>
</ul>
Tim Brazzel, a contributor to The Droning Company and host of the AGN channel partner podcast Inspire with Drones, praised AGN&rsquo;s ability to centralize the autonomy conversation. &ldquo;Whether it&rsquo;s advanced air mobility (AAM),&nbsp; ground robotics, maritime autonomy or defense innovation, AGN captures the full spectrum of activity and brings it to one place,&rdquo; he noted. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s incredible fragmentation in how people access autonomy-related content today. AGN solves that problem by bringing it together in one place.&rdquo;
<h5>A Collaborative Channel Powered by Partners</h5>
One of AGN&rsquo;s defining features is its collaborative framework. Instead of functioning as a top-down publisher, AGN has cultivated partnerships with creators, researchers and organizations to co-develop content.
&ldquo;Our mission is not to be the sole voice of autonomy,&rdquo; Zoldi clarified. &ldquo;We want to provide a platform where other authoritative stakeholders have the opportunity to share their voice. That diversity of perspective is what will strengthen the autonomy community worldwide.&rdquo;
To that end, AGN&rsquo;s debut includes a roster of channel partners representing thought leaders and institutions across drones, TAK and other emerging tech. The initial AGN Channel Partner cohort includes:
<ul>
<li>Commercial UAV News Webinars (Carla Lauter)</li>
<li>Uncrewed Views Podcast (Carl Lauter)</li>
<li>InnovateEnergy (Sean Guerre, Energy Drone &amp; Robotics Coalition)</li>
<li>This Week in Drones (David Lewin)</li>
<li>All Things TAK (Zev Nadler)</li>
<li>Xeocast (Bronwyn Morgan)</li>
<li>The Drone Pilot Hangar (Bronwyn Morgan)</li>
<li>Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast (Alan Gabriel)</li>
<li>Geoholics Podcast (Kent Groh and Sean Fabor)</li>
<li>Inspire with Drones (Tim Brazzel IAW The Droning Company)</li>
</ul>
These collaborations are expected to expand steadily, with partner-driven programming filling out the YouTube lineup throughout the year.
For Zev Nadler, an industry strategist, consultant at UAS Strategic and early supporter of the platform with this TAK-focused podcast, this model represents the future of digital engagement. &ldquo;Autonomy is not just a technology field&mdash;it&rsquo;s a cross-disciplinary wave touching policy, ethics, mobility, security and economics. By bringing in varied voices and formats, AGN ensures that someone tuning in from Zurich, Singapore, or San Francisco gets both the global breadth and the local nuance. That&rsquo;s a rare and valuable opportunity.&rdquo;
<h5>Why AGN Matters Now</h5>
Autonomous systems are no longer speculative. From drone delivery trials in the United States and Europe to the rapid rise of autonomous ground vehicles and AI-powered defense solutions, these technologies are shaping real-world infrastructure and policy at an accelerated pace.
With rapid growth comes complexity. National regulations have evolved unevenly, public understanding remains inconsistent and industry developments are scattered across siloed platforms. This combination has made it difficult for even seasoned professionals to stay current.
&ldquo;An engineer working on drones in Dallas shouldn&rsquo;t need to go digging through five different websites and three different podcasts just to understand regulatory impacts out of Canada,&rdquo; said Brazzel. &ldquo;AGN eliminates that scatter effect. It&rsquo;s a one-stop resource.&rdquo;
For stakeholders across logistics, mobility, defense, healthcare, agriculture and urban planning&mdash;the industries where autonomy is making its biggest inroads&mdash;AGN provides both education and visibility.
<h5>Humanizing a Technical Field</h5>
While AGN&rsquo;s emphasis on news and regulatory updates appeals to professionals, its creators also recognize that one of the biggest barriers to public adoption of autonomy is lack of awareness and trust. By leveraging video storytelling formats&mdash;spotlights, interviews, live Q&amp;As&mdash;the platform is designed to introduce a human face behind complex technologies.
&ldquo;Too often autonomy is discussed in abstract terms&mdash;algorithms, airframes, machine learning models,&rdquo; said Nadler. &ldquo;What AGN does is bring the people forward&mdash;the innovators, the regulators, the entrepreneurs building solutions. Storytelling has the power to demystify autonomy and make it relatable.&rdquo;
This human element is what Zoldi believes will drive AGN&rsquo;s long-term impact. &ldquo;Autonomy is changing the way we live, travel and work. But the heart of autonomy is human ingenuity. Through this channel, we&rsquo;re celebrating those who are advancing safe, ethical and visionary solutions for society.&rdquo;
The larger goal, Zoldi noted, is not just media&mdash;but a sustainable network. &ldquo;We view AGN as a movement. It&rsquo;s about fostering collaboration, breaking down silos and accelerating adoption of autonomy worldwide. The YouTube launch is just the beginning.&rdquo;
<h5>The Future of Autonomy, Streaming Now</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/yGBYLxmidkgaAZ4dXoLKdg6JBNz8t2mxu8EVEtMR.jpg" alt="" width="676" height="379" />
With its debut on YouTube, the Autonomy Global Network is positioning itself not merely as another industry media outlet, but as a living, breathing ecosystem. By centralizing access to global voices, regulatory insights and technological thought leadership, AGN represents a significant step forward in how the autonomy sector connects, communicates and grows.
As Brazzel summarized succinctly: &ldquo;Autonomy is the future. And AGN is where that future comes together.&rdquo;
For Zoldi, the significance is personal as well as professional. &ldquo;This project comes from a place of passion and purpose. Autonomy is reshaping our collective future, and AGN is ensuring that every stakeholder&mdash;not just the largest companies&mdash;has a space to share, learn and lead.&rdquo;
Whether you&rsquo;re a policymaker navigating new regulations, a technologist testing innovations or simply a curious viewer wondering how autonomous systems will shape daily life, AGN has made one thing clear: the conversation has a new home&mdash;and it&rsquo;s streaming live.
<h5>Join Us!</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/msX17CNAt1ei5fdXfqU4TGlbGDfOtXGh9RCzgTJX.png" alt="" width="315" height="315" />
<h5>Afterword by Stuart Smith, CEO of The Droning Company</h5>
As someone who has spent years building platforms to amplify voices within the drone and autonomy industries, I understand the critical importance of creating community. Too often, valuable insights, regulatory updates and innovative success stories remain siloed across regions or scattered across countless media sites. That fragmentation holds us back.
The Autonomy Global Network (AGN) changes that. With its expansion to YouTube, AGN creates a centralized stage for thought leaders, creators, and practitioners to connect on a global level. It&rsquo;s not just news; it&rsquo;s storytelling. It&rsquo;s not just education; it&rsquo;s inspiration.
At The Droning Company, we&rsquo;ve always embraced collaboration to propel the industry forward. That&rsquo;s why AGN resonates so strongly with me and with so many of my peers&mdash;it&rsquo;s a unifying voice for an emerging movement that demands collaboration and shared visibility.
I commend Dawn Zoldi and her team for launching this initiative and for building something that will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the entire autonomy ecosystem.

The Autonomy Global Network

Above photo: Embry‑Riddle student Nicholas Buckalew launches a Skydio UAV for a research project to survey plant life on Lake Beresford in DeLand, Florida. The research, conducted with Stetson University&rsquo;s Institute of Water and Environmental Resilience, will help to understand the health of the lake. (Photo: Embry‑Riddle/David Massey)
20 August 2025
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By Melanie Azam&nbsp;
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<a href="https://news.erau.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University</a> researchers are using drones to capture aerial imagery of aquatic vegetation that will be used to train artificial intelligence models to automatically classify plant life and investigate the health of lakes, rivers and other bodies of water.
The project &mdash; which is the Embry‑Riddle team&rsquo;s latest collaboration with&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" title="This link will open in a new window or tab." href="https://www.stetson.edu/other/iwer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stetson University&rsquo;s Institute of Water and Environmental Resilience</a>&nbsp;(IWER) &mdash; employs uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) outfitted with a variety of cameras to find and collect images of aquatic plants along the shoreline of Lake Beresford in DeLand, Florida.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/Gij1FOxi7LP1gn9VsPblLKomOHQO7Z6kWU5P9A0u.png" alt="" width="624" height="412" />
Embry‑Riddle professor Dr. Dan Macchiarella talks to the team before a UAS mission to map Lake Beresford&rsquo;s water lettuce. (Photo: Embry‑Riddle/David Massey)
&ldquo;Our flight missions have been aimed at gathering images to train the AI,&rdquo; said Dr. Dan Macchiarella, professor in the&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://daytonabeach.erau.edu/college-aviation/aeronautical-science" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Department of Aeronautical Science</a>.
The drones scan for water lettuce, which is considered an aggressive invasive weed that can quickly overtake rivers and lakes, crowding out native plants and animals. Dense mats of water lettuce can also restrict water flow and reduce aquatic life.
&ldquo;We started with water lettuce, but we are looking at expanding out beyond that,&rdquo; said Macchiarella. Dr. Parham Ahmady Phoulady, assistant professor in Embry‑Riddle&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://daytonabeach.erau.edu/college-engineering/electrical-engineering-computer-science" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science</a>, is working on the project&rsquo;s AI models.
Tracking the diversity and number of aquatic plants can offer insight into the health of a body of water. Some of the UAS are equipped with multispectral imaging cameras that detect light bands, which can be used to assess plant health. One also has a thermal camera, which can detect temperature differences in Lake Beresford.
&ldquo;There is a theory that there is a spring in that lake,&rdquo; said Macchiarella. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re looking if we can see a temperature difference to indicate the location of a spring in the lake because a spring is always 72 degrees.&rdquo;
Since 2019, Macchiarella has been working closely with Dr. Jason M. Evans, professor of Environmental Science and Studies and executive director of the IWER at&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" title="This link will open in a new window or tab." href="https://www.stetson.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stetson University</a>&nbsp;in DeLand, to use drones in environmental monitoring,&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://news.erau.edu/headlines/above-the-flooding-high-tech-drones-capture-storm-damage-and-data" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flood mitigation</a>&nbsp;and water quality projects.
&ldquo;Stetson provides environmental science expertise,&rdquo; said Macchiarella. &ldquo;We provide remote sensing from uncrewed aircraft systems and AI expertise.&rdquo;
Their research has received funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). They have also partnered with the&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://news.erau.edu/headlines/turtle-trackers-fly-drones-out-of-sight" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brevard Zoo</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://news.erau.edu/headlines/researchers-plan-drone-study-of-green-stormwater-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">city of Cape Canaveral</a>.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve done research from the Atlantic Ocean to the St. Johns River,&rdquo; said Macchiarella.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/zOOPQnMWgPVkkEV2qk0dcH8WB1Me387TaDrrdaNo.png" alt="" width="635" height="419" />
The UAS mission is to capture aerial imagery of aquatic vegetation that will be used to train AI models to automatically classify plant life and support environmental research. (Photo: Embry‑Riddle/David Massey)
<h5>With Drones, Students Study the Environment</h5>
Macchiarella said that the team of students working on the project is gaining &ldquo;real-world experience&rdquo; at Lake Beresford.
The team includes Nicholas Buckalew, who is pursuing a&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://erau.edu/degrees/master/uncrewed-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener">master&rsquo;s degree in Uncrewed Systems</a>. He took a class with Macchiarella as an undergraduate and found he loved UAS operations. He now runs his own drone company, Pallas Drone Services, which does aerial photography, videography, mapping and inspection.
&ldquo;UAS is definitely the future. The technology is constantly evolving, and it&rsquo;s one of the fastest-growing industries in the world right now,&rdquo; said Buckalew, who is from Houston. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited to see where it&rsquo;s going to go.&rdquo;
Belle Christianson, a senior majoring in&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://erau.edu/degrees/bachelor/uncrewed-aircraft-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uncrewed Aircraft Systems</a>, said the project was her first time doing UAS research work. The past two summers, she has participated in study abroad trips in Argentina and Chile. Both were led by Macchiarella and focused on UAS.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m also learning how to research independently, build my own skills and develop flight plans,&rdquo; said Christianson.
Tyler Deal, a UAS graduate assistant at Embry‑Riddle, has worked on several UAS projects that look to capture the environment. He was involved in a UAS project focused on developing stormwater solutions for Cape Canaveral. In Argentina, he also conducted agricultural and environmental research using UAS.
&ldquo;I just like being at the forefront of technology and innovation, and Embry‑Riddle was the best place for it I could find,&rdquo; said Deal, who was also an undergraduate and has completed UAS internships at Lumbee Tribe Enterprises and&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" title="This link will open in a new window or tab." href="https://censystech.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Censys Technologies</a>. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve flown a wide variety of drones, and I certainly wouldn&rsquo;t have made it this far without all of these experiences.&rdquo;
He also mentioned that he likes how UAS can be employed across various industries for crucial insights that would otherwise be extremely difficult and costly to obtain.
&ldquo;I like taking the data collected by the drones and processing it into something meaningful in the end,&rdquo; said Deal. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s really valuable in any field.&rdquo;
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Drones, AI and Embry‑Riddle

19 August 2025
<a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/news/categories/brazzel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By&nbsp;Timothy Brazzel</a>
In September 2025, I&rsquo;ll be boarding a flight from Southern California to South Korea &mdash; not for vacation, but for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: to represent the United States at the International FIDA World Cup Drone Soccer Competitions.
For those who may not know, drone soccer is a fast-growing international sport that combines aviation, robotics, and competitive teamwork. Players pilot drones encased in protective spheres, navigating through aerial &ldquo;goals&rdquo; in high-energy matches that are as exciting to watch as they are to play. It&rsquo;s not just a sport &mdash; it&rsquo;s a movement inspiring students and communities to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in a whole new way.
<h5 class="p1">Why This Matters</h5>
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/piwfuCSrfUk?si=FEQSVeC_0nAbGXux" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Representing the U.S. on the world stage is more than just a personal milestone. This competition is an opportunity to: - Showcase U.S. drone talent to an international audience. - Build global relationships within the drone and robotics communities. - Inspire young people to get involved in STEM and aviation.
I&rsquo;ll be documenting the entire journey &mdash; from travel, to behind-the-scenes moments, to the intense drone soccer matches &mdash; and sharing it all with my audience through an in-depth video feature. My goal is to make you feel like you were right there with me in South Korea.
<h5 class="p1">How You Can Help</h5>
Traveling to an event like this comes with significant expenses &mdash; flights, lodging, meals, and equipment needs. I&rsquo;ve set up a GoFundMe campaign to help make this trip possible, and I would be deeply grateful for your support.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/qW8qkLoKlTTYMw86gC05I583S81wa9jUl3Dt8Al9.png" alt="" width="307" height="307" />
Every donation, no matter the amount, brings us one step closer to representing the U.S. and sharing this incredible story with the world. If you&rsquo;re unable to give financially, simply sharing the campaign with others is a powerful way to help.
&nbsp;
Here is a direct link to Tim's GoFundMe campaign: <a style="color: #e03e2d;" title="Donate Here" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-timothy-brazzels-journey-to-south-korea/cl/o?utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&amp;utm_content=amp13_t1&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=copy_link&amp;lang=en_US&amp;attribution_id=sl%3A4603ea2e-7ecf-4e96-bdd4-f1f23b976b9f&amp;ts=1755629939">Donate Here</a>
&nbsp;
<h5 class="p1">Final Thoughts</h5>
This journey isn&rsquo;t just about me. It&rsquo;s about representing our country, inspiring the next generation, and showing the world what&rsquo;s possible when passion, technology, and teamwork come together. Let&rsquo;s make history &mdash; together.
<h5 class="p2">About TImothy Brazzel</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/goHcEk5B4Yu6rOxZqDoTDZspqt3KJ5qyD2heuCDH.png" alt="" width="185" height="135" />
I&rsquo;m a Part 107 certified commercial drone operator, video solutions specialist, and columnist for The Droning Company. Over the past three years, I&rsquo;ve had the privilege of working alongside industry leaders such as Skip Fredricks (Hollywood Drones) and Tim Ingram, CEO of FIDA USA and Camp of Champs. These experiences have sharpened my skills in drone cinematography, videography, and storytelling &mdash; and have fueled my passion for bringing the world of drones to wider audiences.

Taking U.S. Drone Soccer to the World Stage

18 August 2025
HYSKY Society is proud to announce the return of its flagship event, FLYING HY 2025, which will be held virtually on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Central Time. Tickets are available for $30 at www.hysky.org/flying-hy.
<h5 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/flying-hy--2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Register Now </a></h5>
FLYING HY is the world&rsquo;s top conference dedicated to hydrogen-powered aviation. Now in its third year, the event unites aircraft developers, hydrogen infrastructure experts, government leaders, and clean tech innovators to advance the future of zero-emission flight.
<h5>Building on the Momentum of FLYING HY 2024</h5>
Last year&rsquo;s FLYING HY 2024 Conference in Las Vegas brought together leading voices from across the hydrogen aviation industry for a multi-day, in-person event. Highlights included keynote speaker Mikael Cardinal (Unither Bioelectronics), Bentzion Levinson (Heven Drones), John Piasecki (Piasecki Aircraft), and Matt Gregori (SoCalGas), among others.
Their presentations showcased real-world applications&mdash;from hydrogen-powered helicopters for medical missions to scalable fueling infrastructure at airports&mdash;and made clear that hydrogen aviation is not only the future, but happening now.
<h5>What to Expect at FLYING HY 2025</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/rxP53RkhAbdBNTSYAqH2kf4FK83wn5GdAgJNKEMb.png" alt="" width="704" height="394" />
Going virtual removes travel barriers and opens the doors to global participation. This year&rsquo;s event will feature:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Presentations from world-class hydrogen aviation leaders</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Live Q&amp;A and interactive discussions</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Structured virtual networking opportunities</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A showcase of aircraft, infrastructure, and use-case breakthroughs</li>
</ul>
&ldquo;We welcome innovators from eVTOLs and advanced air mobility, fixed-wing aircraft, UAVs and drones, WIG craft, and spacecraft,&rdquo; said Danielle McLean, Founder and CEO of HYSKY Society. &ldquo;Our mission is simple: if it defies gravity and uses hydrogen as fuel, it&rsquo;s part of our vision for sustainable flight.&rdquo;
<h5>Event Details</h5>
Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025Time: 9:00 AM &ndash; 1:00 PM Central Time
Location: Online (via Zoom)
Tickets: $30
Register: <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/flying-hy--2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/flying-hy--2025</a>
<h5>Past Speakers Have Included</h5>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Mikael Cardinal (Unither &amp; Robinson)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">John Piasecki (Piasecki Aircraft Corp)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Josef Kallo (H2FLY / Joby)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Mark Haberbusch (NEOEx Inc)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Matt Moran (Moran Innovation)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bentzion Levinson (Heven Drones)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Michael Duke (DBT Aero)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Cody Bateman (MetaVista)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bill Spellane (Alaka&rsquo;i)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Rod Randall (Maglev Aero)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Gael Le Bris (WSP)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Alex Ivanenko (HyWatts)</li>
</ul>
<h5>What FLYING HY Means for AI, UAS, and Drone Teams</h5>
FLYING HY convenes hydrogen aircraft developers, AAM leaders, airport stakeholders, policy makers, and technology innovators. The program spans production and logistics, onboard storage, propulsion, safety, certification, and the regulatory road map. For drone operators and integrators this is a one-stop forum to meet partners, compare architectures, and chart a credible path to scale. Bring your questions and your road map, then leave with named contacts and next steps.
<h5>AI for hydrogen UAS</h5>
Hydrogen extends endurance and improves turnaround tempo. AI turns those physical advantages into dependable operations by planning missions around hydrogen availability, optimizing thermal management, predicting stack health, and tuning flight profiles for efficiency and safety. At FLYING HY you can connect the dots across production, logistics, aircraft integration, and operations so your AI stack is wired into the real constraints of hydrogen systems. If you have a novel AI workflow for fuel-cell drones, this audience will get it and help pressure-test it.
<h5>Electric, Fuel Cell, and Hybrid Drone Architectures</h5>
Electric propulsion will dominate UAS for years. The pivotal decision is how to store and supply energy. Batteries excel on short missions and simple logistics. Fuel cells shine on long routes, cold climates, high utilization, and quick refueling. Hybrids use batteries for peaks and fuel cells for cruise. FLYING HY&rsquo;s mix of classroom and expo helps teams weigh mass budgets, refueling time, expected cycle life, and total cost per hour with real vendors at the table. If you are mid-design, arrive with your constraints and walk the floor to validate them.
<h5>UAS Operations at Airports</h5>
Hydrogen policy and infrastructure will shape how drones operate on or near airports. FLYING HY sessions address airport readiness, hydrogen safety, certification, and standardization, which helps UAS teams align with the direction regulators are moving. Bring your concept of operations and test it with airport leaders and standards experts before you lock in procedures.
<h5>FLYING HY 2025 for the Global Drone Community</h5>
To maximize access in a constrained travel environment, FLYING HY 2025 will run virtually on November 5, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Central. General admission is 30 dollars, which lowers the barrier for startups, agencies, and university labs. Secure your place now at<a href="https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/flying-hy--2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/flying-hy--2025</a>, then invite your engineering lead and your business lead so strategy and execution move together.
What to expect in the four-hour program: concise updates from hydrogen aircraft developers, focused networking across sectors and regions, and a community that already understands your UAS constraints. If you have a result to share or a standard to propose, this room is primed for it.
<h5>Sponsorship Options&nbsp;</h5>
HYSKY offers sponsorships that are 100 percent tax deductible and tuned for visibility with a targeted hydrogen aviation audience. Virtual format means efficient exposure and clean metrics, while benefits scale with each tier. Pick the tier that matches your goals, then craft a simple message tied to endurance, safety, or turnaround time, which are the buying triggers for hydrogen UAS.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Level 1 Sponsor at $250: logo on event page, logo on Zoom background, two general admission tickets. Ideal for startups seeding brand recognition.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Level 2 Sponsor at $500: adds logo placement on event emails and three tickets. Good for teams announcing a platform or module.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Level 3 Sponsor at $1,000: includes an in-program ad and five tickets. Use this for a new hydrogen UAS product demo.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Level 4 Sponsor at $2,500: adds access to the attendee list and seven tickets. Best when your sales team can follow up during the event week.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Branding Sponsor at $5,000: adds a press release feature and ten tickets. Use this when you want market leadership signals at launch. Availability is limited.</li>
</ul>
Tickets are simple: general admission is $30 for the full session window. Share the Zeffy link with partners and customers so they can join your conversations live.<a href="https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/flying-hy--2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/flying-hy--2025</a>
<h5>Why HYSKY Matters Now&nbsp;</h5>
Aviation technology scales when two things come together. First, community density that speeds learning and partnership. Second, clear pathways through safety and regulation. HYSKY delivers both. The 2024 numbers in Las Vegas show a large, focused network. The 2025 virtual program makes it easy for any drone team to plug in without travel. If endurance, turnaround time, and lifecycle emissions are on your roadmap, reserve your place and bring your stakeholders into the conversation that will shape hydrogen UAS for the next decade. Register at<a href="https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/flying-hy--2025"> https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/flying-hy--2025</a>.
<h5>About HYSKY Society</h5>
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.hysky.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HYSKY Society</a> is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to decarbonizing aviation and aerospace with hydrogen. We welcome innovators from eVTOLs/advanced air mobility, fixed-wing aircraft, UAV/drones, WIG craft, and spacecraft. Our mission is simple: if it defies gravity and uses hydrogen as fuel, it&rsquo;s part of our vision for sustainable flight.

FLYING HY 2025

14 August 2025
<a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/boyang-zhou" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Boyang Zhou&nbsp;</a>
Back in October 2018, I certainly did not know what I was getting myself into when my high school friend invited me to accompany him on flying his drone. Fortunately, I mean this in a good way because this trivial seeming event changed my life. He bought a DJI Spark and wanted to have some fun flying around our gorgeous campus in southern New England.
When he took out his drone, I could not believe how tiny it was. That thing was smaller than my lunch box! When it took off, it sounded like an angry wasp. Once my friend took his fair share of photos and videos, he handed over the controller to me and taught me how to fly. It was a phenomenal experience. I have never felt such freedom before. It was as if I got reincarnated as a bird, now free to roam the skies. Even though my friend and I had diverging paths in life and the DJI Spark has long since gone extinct, the impacts of our interaction that day are perpetual and profound: I got addicted to flying drones.
Two months later, I was shopping with my mom in downtown Shanghai and we miraculously stumbled upon DJI&rsquo;s flagship store. We went inside and I was stunned by the diversity of products DJI offered. DJI not only caters all levels of drone pilots from the professional Inspire 2 to the beginner friendly Tello but they also offer other products to cater the greater community of photography and videography enthusiasts like the Osmo action cameras and mobile gimbals. You should have seen the look on my face as I was exploring all the wonders they offered in that store. I looked like a kid going to Disneyland for the first time!
<h5>Watch!</h5>
<iframe style="width: 672px; height: 378px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VSFIpg-Yk2w?si=-d9w6nP3LBG7s8t_" width="672" height="378" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Out of all of DJI&rsquo;s amazing products, the Mavic 2 Pro caught my eye. Seeing how focused I was on reading all its specifications and scrutinizing its design, the staff members invited me for a test fight in a special area of the store. When I started the motors and the mavic took off, the hum of the propellers sounded like music in my ears (definitely a lower pitch than the Spark propellers) and I absolutely fell in love with it! Much to my surprise, my mom offered to buy it for me as a Christmas present and that marked the start of a truly magical journey.
Saying that I was obsessed with my new drone was an understatement. Whenever I was not focusing on school work and college applications, I devoted my time to learning everything I could about my new friend. I looked up DJI&rsquo;s official tutorials regarding smart features the mavic has such as QuickShots, ActiveTrack, and return to home. While those features are very cool and useful, I still prefer to fly my drone manually as that is the operating method that hones a pilot&rsquo;s skills the most as well as being the safest option since it is not unheard of for obstacle avoidance to fail. As the pilot in command, I would never put the safety of other people, myself, and my drone in the false belief that obstacle avoidance systems are perfect. Besides, I find a ton of joy in operating the drone manually myself. Indeed, I dedicated time to learning cinematic maneuvers like the parallax shot and crane shot on youtube and supplemented that new acquired knowledge with copious hours of practicing in local parks and athletic fields. Still there was no mistake that something was still from my creations. No matter how smoothly I operate the control sticks and try to diversify the types of shots I take, my videos simply look dull compared to the accomplished youtubers I looked up to such as Billy Kyle and Flying Filmmaker. After sufficient self-reflection, I realized why that was the case.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/7Ju2VAppRnPYxqL8ZUs0dxmZvklq0QbvBuYfnZGA.png" alt="" width="318" height="248" />
Simply emulating the cinematic moves is not enough. I had to make changes on the most fundamental level starting with where and when to film and of course my camera settings. After I enrolled in the DARTdrones aerial photography and videography course, I realized that I should avoid filming during noontime and do it instead during early morning or late afternoon. I should also position the camera with the sun behind it to avoid overexposure. In retrospect, these takeaways sound so intuitive but I just never paid attention to such details when I first started flying.
As for camera settings, I learned to switch over to manual mode permanently in order to have the greatest possible control over the desired shots and also for consistency. In the past when I relied on automatic mode, the exposure would change in the middle of a video and that makes the scene incredibly distracting. Furthermore, I learned to always take raw photos because they store the greatest amount of data and allow the most flexibility for post processing and also to film in D Log for videos because it offers the greatest dynamic range. As time went on, I picked up on more details that mattered to seasoned aerial cinematographers. For instance, I bought a set of ND filters to adhere to the 180 degree rule and still allow my videos to be properly exposed. Having made many efforts to improve my pre-production and production protocols, I then turned my attention to post-production editing, the final piece of the puzzle.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/NYTah51QngrnY8lg1DjqNVHStpYKk0p865oWfbJE.png" alt="" width="681" height="457" />
I began by purchasing final cut pro and adobe lightroom which would give me the best tools and resources for improving my editing skills. I watched youtube videos on color grading as well as those that explain all the different types of transitions and effects available on final cut pro that promise to bolster my cinematic storytelling. I downloaded the official LUTs from DJI&rsquo;s website and that really made my videos shot in D Log shine. To give myself consistently challenging practice, I made it my goal to compose and fully edit all the videos I took to condense them into a short film whenever I travel to a new location.
Throughout the years, I have traveled to seven different countries with my drone that spans across Asia, Europe, and North America. Even more significant about my travels is the fact that they helped me cultivate my skills in every setting imaginable from bustling Midtown Manhattan to the towering snowy Alps to the treacherous canyons in the Tibetan Plateau looming over the surging Yangtze. My past experience with flying in the most exotic terrains adequately prepared me to be confident in whatever challenges future flights have in store for me.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/Ro4nRzQUkDPoNbvHxtldwMNiExysJxw109IApBKr.png" alt="" width="681" height="457" />
It does not matter whether I am filming somewhere abroad like Zermatt, Switzerland or back in my hometown Shanghai, aerial cinematography gives me the freedom to explore a single subject from an endless combination of angles. Even the most familiar sights to us can look stunning when viewed from a different perspective and that is exactly what I love about drones. They help us appreciate our surroundings and can turn even ordinary objects into a fascinating work of art!
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/ZuTaSMJmrDcWpStAxt5krgEkhTwmX1oUSZk4L1XV.png" alt="" width="678" height="455" />
Fast forward to June 2026, my partner gifted me a Mavic 4 Pro as a graduation present. It was truly an amazing piece of technology. I soon realized that I am capable of much more than just shooting and editing aerial videos for fun. There is a plethora of applications for drones from real estate to event filming to site surveying. Then, I was overwhelmed by an insatiable desire to put my skills and experiences to good use by flying commercially to benefit the public. Without hesitation, I booked an appointment for the FAA Part 107 exam. After two weeks of self studying using helpful online resources like <a href="https://jrupprechtlaw.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">jrupprechtlaw.com</a>, I passed the exam on my first attempt and received my license to fly commercially. I feel so blessed to have embarked on a career that I genuinely love and I am thrilled to see how I can make other people&rsquo;s lives better through how I operate a drone.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/rXCRNl9zXvhQsUqytuc3Z30dJ0ZBiyev9rWd6OuK.png" alt="" width="684" height="459" />

Pilot's Story: Boyang Zhou

12 August 2025
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/news/categories/brazzel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Timothy Brazzel</a>
Sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you didn't expect to show up. It&rsquo;s up to you to embrace them, make them count, and if it doesn&rsquo;t work out&mdash;appreciate the experience and keep moving forward. For the past four months, I've taken weekdays, and time off from my full‑time job to work part‑time with DronePower1, a startup that uses drones to clean and power‑wash solar panels in the low desert&mdash;places like La Quinta, Palm Desert, and Palm Springs. It&rsquo;s hands‑on, fast‑paced, and unlike typical drone work I&rsquo;ve done before. Some maybe wondering. Why take time away from your full-time job to work this other position? Aren&rsquo;t you losing income?' The answer is no. I use my personal paid time, which allows me to take on solar panel drone jobs during the cooler parts of the day. Since this job involves working in warm conditions at times, early starts are essential for both efficiency and safety."
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/8EmBCwGjAoZ6M2lIm3A4remGATyo9g9fgCp1CsMz.png" alt="" width="456" height="303" />
<h5 class="p1">The Tech and Team Behind the Work</h5>
At the heart of the operation is the Joyance JTC10 drone. Here&rsquo;s what makes it technically impressive: - Take‑off weight: ~20 kg; net weight ~12.6 kg - Fly up to 60 m altitude, with 15&ndash;23 minutes per battery - Spraying width: up to 500 mm, with flow rate ~10 L/min - Efficiency: Can cover 500 m&sup2; per flight, or up to 1,500 m&sup2;/hour - Pressure: Up to 4,100&ndash;4,200 psi (adjustable) - Smart features: Obstacle radar, IP56 protection, and fast battery swaps. This drone is tethered to water and power, letting it hover steadily while delivering high‑pressure cleaning. The precision and efficiency are nothing short of game-changing in high‑altitude cleaning applications.
As a team, we rely on constant communication&mdash;using headsets, and a dedicated spotter to monitor the tether and visual line-of-sight, and careful coordination in desert heat. It&rsquo;s work that demands both technical focus and situational awareness; days with up to three to four homes serviced can be hot and intense, yet undeniably rewarding.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/m1FVuvChfdZLnAJQ08fplAYi3Kipfv5k1FYxJel4.png" alt="" width="368" height="337" />&nbsp;
Joyance JTC10 drone
<h5>What It's Like Out There</h5>
Working these jobs feels like merging technology with tangible satisfaction. There&rsquo;s something deeply motivating about flying over dusty solar panels, quickly revealing clean, gleaming rows beneath the desert sun. Seeing the customer&rsquo;s gratitude&mdash;watching their eyes light up as panels transform&mdash;is a powerful reward. I usually earn between $50&ndash;$70 per hour, a strong side income that offers much more than money&mdash;it&rsquo;s autonomy, teamwork, innovation. But more than that, this job has a heartbeat. DronePower1 is young and growing, but it&rsquo;s rooted in solving a real-world problem: keeping solar energy systems operating at peak performance through smart cleaning, from having to climb on top of rooftops, risking ones safety and possibly or unintentionally damaging solar panels. A mentor of mine once said, &ldquo;Opportunities don&rsquo;t always come dressed like opportunities. Sometimes they look like hard work, noise, or even trouble.&rdquo; This gig embodies that idea&mdash;it wasn&rsquo;t glamorous, but it&rsquo;s full of purpose.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/E4COXtBO64VLcOBuRFLWMhsKZJkKdLfa0tRvsw2I.png" alt="" width="316" height="241" />
Flight controller
<h5 class="p1">Drone Industry Growth and the Future of Flight</h5>
The drone industry is not just growing&mdash;it&rsquo;s exploding. Let&rsquo;s look at some forecasts: - The global commercial drone market is projected to climb from $30 billion in 2024 to $54.6 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 10.6% (Grand View Research). - More broadly across all segments, the overall drone market may surge to $163&ndash;165 billion by 2030, with even more optimistic estimates reaching $260 billion (TS2.space). - Drone Industry Insights forecasts the global commercial drone space hitting $54.6 billion by 2030, with energy (utilities) as a leading vertical. - Even sectors like Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)&mdash;passenger air taxis and delivery drones&mdash;see potential valuations of $20.8 billion by 2035. These trends underscore a bright future for drone-related work. As automation expands and regulations evolve&mdash;such as FAA&rsquo;s new BVLOS rules and advanced autonomy certifications&mdash;there will be increasing demand for certified drone pilots, inspectors, and operators to navigate complex operations and maintain safety standards.
<h5 class="p1">Lessons Learned and Words to Live By</h5>
Through this journey with DronePower1, I&rsquo;ve learned: - Embrace unexpected doors: This side job wasn&rsquo;t on my radar, but stepping in opened a new world of education and experience. - Combine heart with technology: Cleaning solar panels with a drone might sound mundane&mdash;until you see it in action. - Stay resilient whether it works out or not. As I often say: &ldquo;If it works out&mdash;great. If it doesn&rsquo;t&mdash;thank your mentors, embrace the lesson, and keep going.&rdquo; I owe deep thanks to Skip Fredricks of Hollywood Drones and Stuart Smith of The Droning Company for their guidance, techniques, and insights that helped shape my field expertise. Also, huge appreciation to the entire DronePower1 team, and the CEO Paul Lyman, founder and aviation expert with over 30 years of military and commercial experience&mdash;this endeavor is as much yours as it is mine.
<h5 class="p2">Watch Now!</h5>
<iframe style="width: 665px; height: 374px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nn7ADwipoXs?si=n5cfyPHosHixXPHE" width="665" height="374" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Job Strategies: Harnessing Opportunity in Unexpected Places

11 August 2025
The FAA&rsquo;s long-awaited Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) has been released&mdash;and <a href="https://www.expouav.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commercial UAV Expo</a> is the first major gathering of industry professionals since the news broke.  Join the industry in Las Vegas to dig into what the NPRM means for you during this critical 60-day comment period.  
<h5 dir="auto" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.expouav.com/session/the-bvlos-nprm-has-been-released-what-now/?utm_source=marketo&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=partner-html-2&amp;utm_content=attendee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NEW SESSION: The BVLOS NPRM Has Been Released. What Now?</a></h5>
✔️ Key takeaways from Part 108 ✔️ Sector-specific implications ✔️ How to write and submit a public comment ✔️ Why industry feedback now matters more than ever  
<h5 dir="auto" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.expouav.com/session/part-108-proposed-rule/?utm_source=marketo&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=partner-html-2&amp;utm_content=attendee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NEW ROUNDTABLE: Part 108 Proposed Rule</a></h5>
✔️ Peer perspectives on Part 108 impacts ✔️ Expert insights and Q&amp;A ✔️ Collaborative comment strategies ✔️ Tips for effective submissions  Part 108 will be a major topic throughout the event. Other key sessions include <a href="https://www.expouav.com/session/navigating-bvlos-operations/?utm_source=marketo&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=partner-html-2&amp;utm_content=attendee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Navigating BVLOS Operations</a> and <a href="https://www.expouav.com/session/deep-dive-into-part-108/?utm_source=marketo&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=partner-html-2&amp;utm_content=attendee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deep Dive into Part 108</a>.  
This is your chance to learn directly from experts, ask questions, and help shape the future of drone operations in the U.S.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/V7ApNz7yvobEz7l5p3R3hOcJny0V74vltmP9mFcQ.png" alt="" width="728" height="120" />
<h5 dir="auto" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.xpressreg.net/register/UAVA0925/landing.php?sc=SAVE100" target="_blank" rel="noopener">REGISTER NOW!</a></h5>
Mark your calendar. Book your pass. Add your voice.
Use code&nbsp;SAVE100&nbsp;for a&nbsp;free Exhibit Hall Pass&nbsp;or&nbsp;$100 off a Full Conference Pass.
<h5 style="text-align: left;">Watch the Preview</h5>
<iframe style="width: 677px; height: 381px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ay_3_xwKNeQ?si=-NqL4Suax6nk96OC" width="677" height="381" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&nbsp;

GET READY FOR Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)

<a href="https://thedroningcompany.com/pilot/giacomo-cortese">Link to Pilot's Profile: https://thedroningcompany.com/pilot/giacomo-cortese</a>
<div>
I'm Giacomo Cortese, an Italian-born drone pilot and founder of My Drone Booking LLC, established in 2025 and based in North New Jersey. My journey into the world of drones began as a hobby shortly after I moved to the United States in 2022. What started as a personal passion quickly evolved into a professional pursuit as I discovered the incredible potential drones offer across industries &mdash; from construction and real estate to public safety and creative arts.
</div>
<div>
I still remember the first time I flew a drone in the U.S. &mdash; it was a simple flight with a DJI Mini 2, just to capture some aerial views of my neighborhood. But as I watched the screen on the controller and saw my surroundings from above for the first time, something clicked. I realized how powerful it was to have this flying camera in my hands. From that moment on, I knew this could be much more than a hobby &mdash; it could be my career.
</div>
<div>
Today, I operate a diverse fleet that includes the <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.dronenerds.com/products/dji-mini-4-pro-fly-more-combo-plus-dji-rc-2">DJI Mini 4 Pro</a>, <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.dronenerds.com/products/dji-avata-2-fly-more-combo-three-batteries">DJI Avata 2</a>, and my favorite &mdash; the <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.dronenerds.com/products/drone-deploy-matrice-4-enterprise-ready-to-fly-bundle-package">DJI Matrice 4E</a>. Each drone has a specific purpose in my workflow, allowing me to tailor my services to meet client needs. Whether it&rsquo;s immersive FPV footage, high-precision mapping, or critical infrastructure inspections, my tools are chosen to deliver the best results with precision and safety. But there&rsquo;s something special about the DJI Matrice 4E. It&rsquo;s more than just a drone &mdash; it&rsquo;s a technological powerhouse that excites me every time I fly it. From its high-resolution camera to its obstacle avoidance and advanced sensors, it&rsquo;s the kind of machine that reminds me how far drone technology has come. Every time I unpack it and prepare for flight, I feel a genuine sense of awe. It's like piloting a flying robot equipped with tools that used to be reserved for large-scale industrial projects or government agencies. The level of detail I can capture with it allows me to offer services that are genuinely transformative for my clients.
</div>
<div>
<h3>Earning Clients' Trust (and Surprise)</h3>
</div>
<div>
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is seeing clients react to the final results. Many people still don&rsquo;t fully understand what drones can do &mdash; they think of them as just flying cameras for cool video shots. What they often don&rsquo;t realize is the complexity behind these tools. We're talking about aircraft equipped with 4K to 8K cameras, LiDAR sensors, RTK modules, thermal imaging, and AI-assisted flight modes. Once clients see the clarity of the imagery, the accuracy of the 3D maps, or the impact of aerial visualizations in their presentations or reports, they're genuinely blown away. It&rsquo;s common for a client to say something like, &ldquo;I had no idea drones could do this.&rdquo; That moment of realization is one of my favorite parts of the job. I get to educate and demonstrate how drone data can provide solutions they never thought possible &mdash; whether it&rsquo;s documenting a building site in real-time, creating a 3D model of a shopping center, or capturing cinematic content for social media and marketing. I once worked with a general contractor who needed an update on a large commercial site. He assumed I would just give him some video clips. Instead, I delivered a full orthomosaic map and 3D model of the property. When he saw how he could measure distances, check progress, and even plan logistics based on the model &mdash; his reaction was unforgettable. Since then, he's referred me to several colleagues, which showed me how powerful it is when people really understand what drones can do.
</div>
<div>
<h3>Staying on the Cutting Edge</h3>
</div>
<div>
I&rsquo;m obsessed with staying updated on drone technology. Every time a new model is announced, I&rsquo;m already watching videos, reading forums, checking emails from DJI Enterprise, and exploring how I can integrate the latest features into my services. This constant learning isn&rsquo;t just a hobby &mdash; it&rsquo;s a commitment I make to my clients. I want to be sure I&rsquo;m offering them the best tools and workflows the industry has to offer. Whenever there&rsquo;s a firmware update or a new software launch, I dive in. I&rsquo;ve learned that staying up to date gives me a serious edge in the field. It means faster processing, more accurate deliverables, and a better understanding of what&rsquo;s possible. If there&rsquo;s a new way to deliver higher resolution, fly more safely, or process maps faster, I&rsquo;m on it. I believe the best drone pilots are not just good with the sticks &mdash; they&rsquo;re also researchers, problem-solvers, and innovators. I always try to test new features on-site before offering them commercially, so I know exactly how they'll perform under real-world conditions.
</div>
<div>
<h3>From Passion to Purpose</h3>
</div>
<div>
Flying drones is not just a job to me &mdash; it&rsquo;s something that deeply excites me. Every time I send a drone into the air, I feel that same rush I felt the very first time. These small aircraft are filled with incredible technology, and piloting them never gets old. But what excites me even more is knowing that my work matters &mdash; that the images, videos, and 3D models I create are being used by real people to make real decisions. When I hand off a final deliverable to a construction manager, an architect, or a marketing team, I know they&rsquo;re not just looking at pretty visuals. They're using my work to plan, promote, solve problems, or tell a story. And to me, that&rsquo;s where drones become something bigger &mdash; they become tools of communication and change. Coming from Italy, I also bring a sense of aesthetic sensitivity to every project. My background has taught me to pay close attention to composition, light, and detail &mdash; especially when working with real estate or promotional video content. I believe that combining technical skill with a creative eye sets my work apart in this industry.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lLrpKhIyrfo?si=EQnCK8YaDjRSdIIO" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
</div>
<div>
<h3>Expanding into Public Safety</h3>
</div>
<div>
Looking ahead, one of my biggest goals is to work more closely with public safety departments, including police and fire departments. I&rsquo;m particularly interested in supporting search and rescue operations and emergency response efforts using thermal cameras and live drone feeds. The DJI Matrice 4T capabilities are ideal for these missions &mdash; whether it&rsquo;s locating a missing person in a wooded area or detecting hotspots during a fire. Being able to support first responders with real-time aerial data would be incredibly meaningful to me. I&rsquo;ve already begun preparing for this by gaining experience with thermal imaging, building contacts with local departments, and researching FAA waivers and safety protocols for public safety operations. I believe that with the right training and collaboration, drones can become critical tools in saving lives.
</div>
<div>
<h3>Building Something Bigger</h3>
</div>
<div>
As a certified FAA Part 107 drone pilot, I ensure that all my operations follow legal and safety protocols. I regularly obtain LAANC authorizations for controlled airspace and have experience operating in both standard and restricted zones. I&rsquo;m also OSHA 10 certified, which gives me an added layer of credibility and safety awareness when working on construction sites or industrial jobs. My mission is simple: to make high-quality aerial data accessible, useful, and impactful. I believe drones aren&rsquo;t just cameras in the sky &mdash; they&rsquo;re revolutionary tools that can streamline workflows, enhance safety, reduce costs, and spark creativity. I want My Drone Booking LLC to be known not just for beautiful imagery, but for delivering real value through every flight. Eventually, I hope to scale the business into a full-service drone operation serving clients across the Tri-State area and beyond. That includes growing a team, investing in more advanced gear, and branching into agriculture, energy, and public sector work. I see drones becoming more integrated into everyday business, and I want to be at the forefront of that shift.
</div>
<div>
<h3>Final Thoughts</h3>
</div>
<div>
Flying drones has allowed me to build something I&rsquo;m truly proud of. It&rsquo;s not just about flying &mdash; it&rsquo;s about solving problems, telling stories, and helping others see the world from a new perspective. As someone who moved from Italy to chase new opportunities, I&rsquo;ve found in the sky a way to connect my past and future &mdash; combining creativity, technology, and purpose into one flight at a time. From mapping job sites to exploring emergency response applications, this is only the beginning. I&rsquo;m excited to keep learning, keep flying, and keep helping others discover the power of drones.
</div>

Pilot’s Story: Giacomo Cortese

06 August 2025
New rules have been proposed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to speed up innovations in drone tech and ensure operations are "safe, secure, routine, and scalable."
Outlined in a <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/BVLOS_NPRM_website_version.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">731-page report</a>, the proposed regulations seek to eliminate impediments to BVLOS flights and other drone operations. Duffy wants remotely piloted drones to be able to travel over longer distances to deliver goods, inspect infrastructure, and assist with agricultural needs.
&ldquo;Industry needs this rule to make sure they can use this technology that&rsquo;s going to allow them to do business more efficiently and effectively,&rdquo; said Duffy.
<h5>Watch the Drone Briefing</h5>
<iframe style="width: 677px; height: 381px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VjUODMOm2gI?si=wA1NHIjApF-RDr9z" width="677" height="381" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

U.S. Seeks to "Unleash American Drone Dominance"

05 August 2025
<a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/timothy-brazzel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Timothy Brazzel</a>
I have built a successful company providing drone videography/photography and video editing services for&nbsp;weddings and engagements, real estate, roof inspections, special events, social media content for marketing and branding, commercial properties, and more.
Let me share some ideas with you, so you can build or expand your own company. Opportunities are out there. Go get them!
<h5>Get Those Drone Jobs Now!</h5>
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