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
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...
23 May 2026
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 Firs...
23 May 2026
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...
12 May 2026
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/2...
2 May 2026
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 schedule...
25 Apr 2026
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 "se...
17 Apr 2026
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 spend...
16 Apr 2026
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 $9...
10 Apr 2026
Nobody Is Replacing DJI, the Mavic 2 Era Ends, and Amazon's Drone Delivery Reality Check — UAS Weekly Briefing April 10, 2026
The platforms that defined professional drone operations are being retired. No domestic manufacturer is ready to fill the gap DJI is leaving. And this week, real-world deployments — from a Texas suburb pushing back on delivery drones to an Oregon sheriff's office making a hit-and-run arrest from the air — showed exactly where the industry stands. In this episode, we break down: • Why no domestic manufacturer is ready to replace DJI at scale — and what the January 2027 deadline means for ope...
5 Apr 2026
Weekly Drone Briefing: FCC Drone Dominance, Nuclear Base Swarms & the Future of Autonomous Aviation
The drone era isn't coming — it arrived this week. The U.S. government declared drone dominance a national priority. Sophisticated swarms penetrated a nuclear base for a week. And traditional aerospace giants are betting everything on autonomous systems. In this episode, we break down: • Why the FCC's "drone dominance" proceeding matters for every operator • The Barksdale Air Force Base drone incursions — what happened and why it matters • Manna's $50M raise and what it signals about drone ...
1 Apr 2026
What It Actually Costs to Start a Drone Program (2026)
Your agency just approved a $3,000 drone purchase. It arrives Tuesday. By Wednesday, it's sitting in a supply closet — because nobody is FAA-certified to fly it, nobody wrote the policies, and nobody planned for anything beyond unboxing day. Sound familiar? In this episode, we break down: • Why a drone purchase and a drone program are two completely different things • The five major cost categories every program needs to budget for — and the real dollar ranges • The hidden costs that show u...
25 Mar 2026
Why Utility UAS Programs Fail — And How to Build One That Works
Your utility bought the drones. Your pilots passed their Part 107 exams. Management signed off on the budget. And then six months later, the inspection data is sitting on a hard drive that nobody's opened, the maintenance team doesn't trust the imagery, and leadership is asking where the ROI went. This is one of the most common patterns we see in utility drone programs: organizations that invest in the right equipment and still don't get the results they were expecting. The gap isn't the tech...
18 Mar 2026
Drone Training for Fire Departments: What Part 107 Doesn't Teach You on the Fireground
Your fire department finally got the budget. The drone is state of the art. Your pilots passed their Part 107 exams. Leadership put out a press release. And then, at 2 AM, the first real structure fire call drops — and things quietly fall apart. The pilot freezes on the thermal read. The incident commander waves it off. The footage is useless. And nobody really knows what went wrong. This is one of the most common — and most dangerous — patterns in fire department drone programs today: mistak...
3 Mar 2026
Conquering Airspace: Part 107 Airspace Explained (Without the Confusion)
Airspace is the “final boss” of the FAA Part 107 exam — not because it’s impossible, but because most people try to memorize it instead of understanding the system. In this episode, we break airspace down into a simple, repeatable framework: controlled vs. uncontrolled (permission vs. no permission). We walk through the airspace classes you actually need for Part 107, show how LAANC makes authorization simple, and explain how to read sectional charts faster by focusing on what the colors and ...
23 Feb 2026
How to Pass FAA Part 107 in 2026 (Study Plan + Common Traps)
The FAA Part 107 exam is the #1 gatekeeper to flying drones professionally. And in 2026, Remote ID and night operations updates make “old advice” risky. In this episode, we demystify the Part 107 test (it’s a knowledge exam, not a flight test), explain what’s on it, and give you a realistic study strategy you can follow with confidence. If you’re studying right now, this episode gives you a clear path and a readiness benchmark so you know exactly when to schedule your test. We cover: What the...
24 Dec 2025
DJI “Drone Ban” Explained. What the FCC Actually Changed and What to Do Next
Headlines are calling it a DJI ban. The reality is more specific, and it matters for anyone buying drones in the United States. In this episode, we break down what the FCC’s latest move actually does, what it does not do, and how to make smart decisions right now if you are a hobbyist, a small drone business, or an agency building an enterprise UAS program. We explain what “FCC equipment authorization” means in plain English, why this is not an FAA flight ban, and what the real risk is for th...
21 Nov 2025
Drones in Firefighting: The Ultimate Force Multiplier
This episode explains how fire departments are using drones as a powerful force multiplier to improve safety, protect personnel, and make better decisions at every stage of an incident. The conversation covers how aerial overwatch strengthens Incident Command by revealing roof conditions, escape routes, fire spread, and structural risk in real time. The hosts walk through key use cases, including structure fires, wildfires, search and rescue, and hazmat responses. They also explain the ...
21 Nov 2025
Drone as First Responder: How DFR Transforms Public Safety
This episode explains how Drone as First Responder programs are changing emergency response across the country. The conversation covers how DFR works, why agencies are adopting it, and the impact it has on response times, scene awareness, safety, and resource allocation. The hosts discuss common questions from administrators, including cost, training requirements, regulatory pathways, and what it takes to launch a program the right way. This episode is designed for city leadership...
20 Nov 2025
Part 107: How to Become a Certified Remote Pilot
This episode breaks down exactly what the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate is, why it exists, and who needs it. The conversation covers the history of Part 107, the legal requirements to fly commercially, what the exam includes, and how to prepare the right way. The hosts explain the full process from start to finish, including registration, TSA vetting, testing requirements, and renewal. This episode is designed for anyone who wants to fly drones for their department, busine...
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