Red Raven UAS Podcast

Red Raven UAS

Drones are changing the way public safety teams, government agencies, and businesses work, but understanding FAA rules, training requirements, and operational best practices can feel overwhelming. The Red Raven Podcast simplifies it all. Each episode explores topics like Part 107 licensing, DFR workflows, airspace basics, program setup, safety standards, and how organizations across the country are using drones to work faster, safer, and smarter. If you're preparing for your Part 107 exam, launching a drone program, or looking to strengthen your team's skills, this podcast gives you the information you need to get started the right way. Learn more at https://redravenuas.com

  1. Red Raven UAS Weekly Briefing: The U.S. Drone Industrial Base Surge, the DJI Ban Narrative Cracks, and Matternet Goes Public (May 29, 2026)

    May 30

    Red Raven UAS Weekly Briefing: The U.S. Drone Industrial Base Surge, the DJI Ban Narrative Cracks, and Matternet Goes Public (May 29, 2026)

    You can't open a drone news feed this week without hitting two storylines: federal money pulling the U.S. drone industry into a different gear, and the FCC's foreign drone ban finally hitting the kind of real-world friction that's hard to spin. Add a $33 million drone delivery IPO, a Louisiana DA paying for an entire DFR program, and a market projection that says drone services will grow nearly eight times by 2034 — and you have one of the busiest weeks of the year. In this episode, we break down: • The Trump administration's reported plans to fund U.S. drone makers — and why drone stocks jumped double digits • The Pentagon's 300,000-drone target and the Fort Benning competition • The FCC's conditional approval pathway — Blueflite, Verity AG, and Air VEV • DJI's independent security audit and the 3,000+ FCC public comments from American operators • HoverAir AQUA's global launch — and why Americans can't buy it • Matternet's $33M raise and reverse merger public-market move • The Louisiana DA-funded BRINC + Skydio + robot dog program for two parish sheriffs • The new $256B drone services market projection by 2034 Resources mentioned in this episode: • Red Raven UAS On-Site Training: redravenuas.com/services • FAA Part 107 Course: redravenuas.com/part107 • Consulting & Program Development: redravenuas.com/consulting • Show Notes & Blog Post: redravenuas.com/podcast/2026-05-29-weekly-briefing For UAS consulting, on-site training, and FAA Part 107 certification, visit redravenuas.com. For UAS consulting, on-site training, and FAA Part 107 certification, visit redravenuas.com This episode was produced using AI-assisted narration and editing under Red Raven editorial direction.

    23 min
  2. Red Raven UAS Weekly Briefing: Ontario Bans Chinese Drones, the Pentagon's $500M Counter-Drone Deal, and Dallas Launches Drone First Responders (May 22, 2026)

    May 23

    Red Raven UAS Weekly Briefing: Ontario Bans Chinese Drones, the Pentagon's $500M Counter-Drone Deal, and Dallas Launches Drone First Responders (May 22, 2026)

    You call 911 — and a drone gets there before the patrol car does. That's not a concept video. That's Dallas, this week. It was a big seven days in drones, and the stories all point the same direction. In this episode, we break down: • Why Ontario just banned Chinese-made drones — and what it means if you fly DJI • Autel's new fight with the FCC, and why drone makers are splitting apart • The Pentagon's up-to-$500 million bet on drones that hunt other drones • How Dallas built a Drone as First Responder program with 2-minute response times • Drone delivery going mainstream — from Taco Bueno to Amazon Prime Air • Kansas City's first-of-its-kind World Cup drone defense network • What it all means for agencies, operators, and anyone getting into drones Resources mentioned in this episode: • Red Raven UAS On-Site Training: redravenuas.com/services • FAA Part 107 Course: redravenuas.com/part107 • Consulting & Program Development: redravenuas.com/services • Show Notes & Blog Post: redravenuas.com/podcast/2026-05-22-weekly-briefing For UAS consulting, on-site training, and FAA Part 107 certification, visit redravenuas.com This episode was produced using AI-assisted narration and editing under Red Raven editorial direction.

    22 min
  3. You Passed the FAA Part 107 Exam. Now What? Your Practical Guide to Getting Paid to Fly

    May 23

    You Passed the FAA Part 107 Exam. Now What? Your Practical Guide to Getting Paid to Fly

    The screen flashes "Pass." You pump your fist. You walk out to the parking lot — and then it hits you: nobody actually told you what comes next. Your score sheet proves you passed a knowledge exam. It does not make you a licensed commercial drone pilot. Not yet. In this episode, we break down: • The IACRA application — why the test score isn't your certificate and what you actually need to do to get one • Drone insurance — what clients actually require before they'll book you, and how to get covered affordably as a new pilot • Business setup — LLC formation, business bank accounts, written contracts, and expense tracking from day one • Portfolio building — how to get real footage before you have real clients (hint: fly before you get paid) • Airspace compliance — Remote ID, LAANC authorization, and the 60-second pre-flight checklist that protects your certificate • Finding clients and pricing — real estate as your entry point, realistic rate benchmarks, and why you should never underprice your certification Resources mentioned in this episode: • FAA IACRA Portal: https://iacra.faa.gov • Red Raven Part 107 Online Course: https://www.redravenuas.com/part107 • Full Blog Post: https://www.redravenuas.com/blog/you-passed-part-107-now-what • Red Raven Services & Consulting: https://www.redravenuas.com/services • For drone training, program development, and FAA Part 107 certification: https://www.redravenuas.com For UAS consulting, on-site training, and FAA Part 107 certification, visit redravenuas.com This episode was produced using AI-assisted narration and editing under Red Raven editorial direction.

    39 min
  4. Red Raven UAS Weekly Briefing: FAA Targets Critical Infrastructure Airspace, BVLOS Normalization Strategy Drops, and DJI Comments Close May 11 (May 8, 2026)

    May 12

    Red Raven UAS Weekly Briefing: FAA Targets Critical Infrastructure Airspace, BVLOS Normalization Strategy Drops, and DJI Comments Close May 11 (May 8, 2026)

    The FAA moved in two directions at once this week: proposing a new UAFR process for critical infrastructure while publishing the first official BVLOS road map. We break down what both mean for commercial operators, cover the May 11 DJI FCC reply deadline, the wireless industry's push for dedicated drone spectrum, a small government agency drone adoption success story, and AirData's Commercial Drone Alliance membership ahead of Part 108. Show Notes Link: https://www.redravenuas.com/podcast/2026-05-08-weekly-briefingBlog Post Link: https://www.redravenuas.com/blog/2026-05-08-weekly-briefingPart 107 Course: https://www.redravenuas.com/part107Services: https://www.redravenuas.com/services For UAS consulting, on-site training, and FAA Part 107 certification, visit redravenuas.com This episode was produced using AI-assisted narration and editing under Red Raven editorial direction.

    22 min
  5. UAS Weekly Briefing — May 1, 2026: Possible Drone Strike Near San Diego, Skydio's $3.5B Expansion, and More

    May 2

    UAS Weekly Briefing — May 1, 2026: Possible Drone Strike Near San Diego, Skydio's $3.5B Expansion, and More

    In This Episode: A United Airlines crew on final approach to San Diego reported a possible drone encounter at 4,000 feet — ten times the legal limit for drone operations. Skydio committed $3.5 billion to American manufacturing. Beijing banned consumer drone sales citywide. Federal agents recovered 15 stolen agricultural spray drones from a New Jersey warehouse. The Department of Homeland Security released a new counter-drone playbook for first responders. Cargo drones are now flying scheduled medical runs over the East River. And Ukraine logged the most intense single month of drone warfare in the war's history. In this episode, we break it all down — what happened, who it affects, and what it means if you're running a drone program, training for your Part 107, or just trying to understand where this industry is heading. What you'll learn: Why the San Diego United Airlines incident matters — even though no physical strike was confirmedWhat the 400-foot altitude rule means and why flying above it is a serious federal concernWhy Skydio's $3.5B investment is significant for public safety agencies evaluating DJI alternativesWhat Blue UAS is and why it matters for government drone procurementThe global pattern behind Beijing's drone ban and what it signals about Remote ID enforcementWhy stolen agricultural spray drones triggered a federal response — and what fleet security means for drone program managersWhat counter-UAS systems actually do and why your drone operators need to understand themHow Skyports got FAA approval for BVLOS cargo flights over the East River — and what that process looks likeWhat Ukraine's drone warfare statistics mean for U.S. defense spending and commercial drone technologyFor UAS consulting, on-site training, and FAA Part 107 certification, visit redravenuas.com This episode was produced using AI-assisted narration and editing under Red Raven editorial direction.

    21 min
  6. Red Raven UAS Weekly Briefing: A $1.5 Billion Vacuum, 10-Day Plea Deals, and the End of the Flying Camera (April 24, 2026)

    Apr 25

    Red Raven UAS Weekly Briefing: A $1.5 Billion Vacuum, 10-Day Plea Deals, and the End of the Flying Camera (April 24, 2026)

    DJI's $1.5 billion FCC reality just opened a vacuum in the U.S. drone market — and what's filling it is forcing every operator, hobbyist, and program manager to rethink the next decade. In this episode, we break down: The $1.5 billion DJI shortfall and what the FCC ban actually means — what's blocked, what's grandfathered, and why the forums are a mess right nowThe Lito loophole — how DJI's new sub-249-gram airframes slip past Part 89 in every market except AmericaSkyRover and the rise of "secret clone" manufacturers stepping out of DJI's shadow — and the regulatory trap waiting for buyersThe end of the FAA warning era — DETER, the new 10-day plea deal mechanism, and why a single violation can be life-ruining moneyRemote ID as a digital license plate — how the drone is doing the snitching, and what the FIFA World Cup has to do with itThe photogrammetry pivot — why the commercial drone is no longer a flying camera, and where the highest-paying jobs actually are nowResources mentioned in this episode: FAA Part 107 Course (current special pricing): redravenuas.com/part107Weekly Briefing full post: redravenuas.com/blog/weekly-briefing-2026-04-24Red Raven Consulting & Program Development: redravenuas.com/servicesFor UAS consulting, on-site training, and FAA Part 107 certification, visit redravenuas.com This episode was produced using AI-assisted narration and editing under Red Raven editorial direction.

    21 min
  7. Red Raven UAS Weekly Briefing: DJI Isn't Slowing Down — And Neither Is the Race to Replace It (April 17, 2026)

    Apr 17

    Red Raven UAS Weekly Briefing: DJI Isn't Slowing Down — And Neither Is the Race to Replace It (April 17, 2026)

    Every layer of the drone industry moved this week — and if you're operating, training, or building in this space, you need to understand why. In this episode, we break down: DJI's April release and the closing window for US availability — which products can reach American buyers and whyHyfix's $15M chip manufacturing round and the May 1 FCC "Drone Dominance" comment deadlineAeroVironment's MAYHEM 10 and the Air Force's $270M solar-drone contract built on Ukraine combat dataCounter-drone spending explosion: $29B in Q1 alone, border lasers, rifle ammunition, and Marine deploymentsAmazon's 30M customer delivery target and DoorDash's Atlanta launch — and what community friction means for all operatorsRecord Part 107 test attempts and what declining pass rates signal about the workforce pipelineResources mentioned in this episode: FAA Part 107 Course (current special pricing): redravenuas.com/part107Weekly Briefing full post: redravenuas.com/blog/weekly-briefing-2026-04-17Red Raven Consulting & Program Development: redravenuas.com/servicesFor UAS consulting, on-site training, and FAA Part 107 certification, visit redravenuas.com This episode was produced using AI-assisted narration and editing under Red Raven editorial direction.

    15 min
  8. Why People Fail the FAA Part 107 Exam — And What to Do Before Your Retake

    Apr 16

    Why People Fail the FAA Part 107 Exam — And What to Do Before Your Retake

    You walked out of the testing center. The screen said FAIL. Now you're calculating how much the retake costs and how long you have to wait. In this episode, we break down: Why the official 92% pass rate is misleading — and what it hides about self-studiersWhat the Part 107 exam actually tests (hint: zero questions about flying a drone)The #1 cause of exam failures: sectional chart interpretation — what sectional charts are and why they trip everyone upThe "free resources" trap that turns a $99 problem into a $350 problemHow to read your score report and use it to build your retake study planThe 85% benchmark: why you should never reschedule until you hit this on practice examsWhat our pass guarantee actually covers — and how it worksResources mentioned in this episode: Free 12-Question Part 107 Practice Test: redravenuas.com/part107-practice-testFAA Part 107 Course (pass guarantee): redravenuas.com/part107Full Written Guide: redravenuas.com/blog/failed-part-107-examFor UAS consulting, on-site training, and FAA Part 107 certification, visit redravenuas.com This episode was produced using AI-assisted narration and editing under Red Raven editorial direction.

    21 min
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Ratings & Reviews

3
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Drones are changing the way public safety teams, government agencies, and businesses work, but understanding FAA rules, training requirements, and operational best practices can feel overwhelming. The Red Raven Podcast simplifies it all. Each episode explores topics like Part 107 licensing, DFR workflows, airspace basics, program setup, safety standards, and how organizations across the country are using drones to work faster, safer, and smarter. If you're preparing for your Part 107 exam, launching a drone program, or looking to strengthen your team's skills, this podcast gives you the information you need to get started the right way. Learn more at https://redravenuas.com

Information

  • Creator
    Red Raven UAS
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Red Raven UAS
  • Show Website
    Red Raven UAS Podcast

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