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28 April 2025
Will Waters was doing cutting edge agricultural research at the University of Florida back in the 1970s but he probably could never envision what his grandson Andrew would be working on five decades later at Warren UAS, the pioneering drone training program at Warren County Community College.
Andrew Bieniek, who recently graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, has joined the growing staff at WarrenUAS as a specialist in the programming and maintenance of some 90 drone systems at Warren.
He&rsquo;ll be monitoring and maintaining those systems and training WarrenUAS students to fill the huge gaps where those skills are needed in the drone industry. He&rsquo;ll also be focused on the training and research Warren is doing in precision agriculture, the growing use of drones to monitor and improve farmland and vastly increase the efficiency of farmers.
&ldquo;My grandfather was doing leading research on the growth of oranges and tomatoes and other crops. He was a huge influence on me, and I was always interested in the work he was doing. Now I have a chance to work with these cutting-edge tools that today can improve the efficiency and sustainability of farms,&rdquo; he said.
Bieniek was a standout student at Embry-Riddle, the leading aeronautical program in the country, initially studying aerospace engineering because of a long-held love of flight. However, he has the dwarfism genetic condition achondroplasia, and he recognized that, while he dreamed of flying, his condition would make it challenging. At about the same time he found drones.
&ldquo;He was always trying to learn more and explore new material&rdquo; says Dr. Joseph Cerreta, an associate professor in the College of Aeronautics at Embry-Riddle, who was Bieniek&rsquo;s professor in drone training courses and his mentor.
Cerreta points out that Bieniek sought out new learning opportunities, working with the college on drone inspection of tornado damage assessments and flooding in Oklahoma, for instance, or the latest campus research on 3-D printing for the equipment.
&ldquo;But he not only participated in the newest work we were doing &ndash; he took on leadership roles with other students as a team leader. They knew he had a grasp of the information and they wanted to learn from him. Warren is lucky to have someone who can connect with their students and provide them with the latest knowledge about these systems, which he&rsquo;ll keep gathering.&rdquo;
Warren County Community College President Will Austin, who has been deeply involved in development of WarrenUAS at the school, echoed Cerreta&rsquo;s praise.
&ldquo;Andrew fills a gap here at the college and the way we can serve the drone industry,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s very well versed in unmanned systems but really knows how to design and maintain them. We need an expert like that on campus for our fleet &ndash; and we want our students to have an opportunity to acquire those skills.&rdquo;
In a short time at Embry-Riddle and in the five years since his graduation, Bieniek has gained additional wide-ranging experience. He has worked with the biggest firms offering drone delivery services, helped lead search-and-rescue missions, investigated invasive species and helped establish drone use for utility systems and operations. He has logged more than 1,800 hours of flight time and in one position trained some 300 drone pilots.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been fortunate to have some great learning experiences at Embry-Riddle and in the industry since, but I&rsquo;m looking forward to the opportunity to work with students and teach, which I really enjoy most,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This position will allow me to keep up with the latest about drone systems and an opportunity to work with students, so they have the latest knowledge.
He is now working on development of a class covering the design, programming and maintenance of unmanned systems, potentially offered to WarrenUAS students this fall.
WarrenUAS began operation at Warren County Community College five years ago and has grown to be one of the leading training programs for unmanned systems in the nation. Housed in two new facilities on campus, it offers its growing number of students access to some $5 million in equipment and a faculty comprised of leading experts in the field.
It has expanded its offerings and the certifications it can provide for safe flight and now provides students with more specific training in precision agriculture, which has become one of Austin&rsquo;s priorities.
&ldquo;There are so many areas where our students can find great careers with these skills operating unmanned systems,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Andrew will add another dimension to our program as an expert in the fundamental ways these systems operate and are built and maintained. And his wide-ranging skills and knowledge will be an asset for us beyond that.&rdquo;
Bieniek, who began his work at Warren in early February, says he&rsquo;s already found that the position suits him well &ndash; and believes he can even further boost the program&rsquo;s reputation as a leading academic site for drone training.
&ldquo;It is such an exciting time to be involved in this field and Warren is a great place to explore the growing capability of this technology and train students to learn about them and grow careers in the field,&rdquo; he said.

Andrew Bieniek joins Warren County Community College

Trending News

28 April 2025
<a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/malik-norman" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Malik Norman</a>
When I first set foot in flight school, my mind was set on one thing: becoming a commercial pilot. Like many others who dream of flying for a living, I was chasing altitude, runway lights, and that unmistakable rumble of a turboprop firing to life. I wanted to wear the stripes, command an aircraft, and look out at the horizon from 30,000 feet. Drones? At that point, they weren&rsquo;t even on my radar&mdash;no pun intended.
My journey into aviation began like most student pilots: with a deep passion for flight and a desire to master the skies. I enrolled in flight school full of excitement and maybe a little nervousness. The syllabus was intense, filled with aerodynamics, airspace classes, FAA regulations, and endless hours of ground school. Every day was a new lesson, every night a study session. I was completely immersed in the world of manned aviation.
The camaraderie at school was also something special&mdash;being surrounded by other aspiring pilots created a strong sense of purpose and motivation. We pushed each other to stay sharp, and although the curriculum was tough, there was something truly fulfilling about being part of a community united by the same dream.
Then came an unexpected turn.
One day, during course selection for electives, I noticed an option to take a Part 107 drone pilot certification course. It wasn&rsquo;t something I had planned on, but what caught my attention was the incentive&mdash;if I completed the course, I&rsquo;d get a free drone. That alone piqued my interest. At the time, the idea of flying a drone sounded like a fun side hobby, nothing more than a cool toy I could mess around with during downtime. It definitely didn&rsquo;t seem like anything I&rsquo;d pursue seriously.
So I signed up, half-curious and half-motivated by the prospect of scoring a free DJI drone.
To my surprise, the drone ground school wasn&rsquo;t all that different from what I was already studying. In fact, there was a remarkable overlap between manned and unmanned flight training. Concepts like airspace classifications, weather patterns, METARs and TAFs, sectional charts, radio communications, and FAA regulations were all part of the Part 107 curriculum too. What I thought would be a light, easygoing elective ended up being a full-fledged educational experience&mdash;and one that was far more demanding than I expected.
But here&rsquo;s where things started to shift.
The more I learned about drone operations, the more I realized how wrong I had been. Drones weren&rsquo;t just high-tech toys you flew around the backyard. The level of precision, situational awareness, and knowledge required to legally and safely operate one in national airspace was far greater than I had ever imagined. The FAA wasn&rsquo;t handing out licenses for weekend hobbyists&mdash;this was serious aviation.
I found myself starting to respect drone pilots in a way I hadn&rsquo;t before. It wasn&rsquo;t about just pushing a joystick and watching a screen&mdash;it was about mission planning, risk assessment, understanding the weather, respecting privacy laws, and navigating real-world airspace. I began to see drone aviation not as a side branch of aviation, but as a specialized skill set with its own challenges and rewards.
Going through the rigors of Part 107 ground school gave me a whole new appreciation for what drone pilots do. I gained a better understanding of how drones are used in industries like cinematography, search and rescue, agriculture, infrastructure inspection, and more. I saw how UAVs could capture perspectives no human could reach, and how much discipline it took to fly them professionally.
When I finally passed the Part 107 exam, that certificate meant something very different to me than it did when I first signed up. It wasn&rsquo;t about a free drone anymore. It was about adding another set of wings to my aviation journey&mdash;just a different kind than I originally envisioned.
Soon after, I received my DJI Mini 3 Pro. At first, I flew just to practice, experimenting with different maneuvers, learning the controls, studying how the drone responded to weather, wind, and terrain. The more I flew, the more confident I became. That confidence turned into creativity. I started taking shots, exploring camera settings, and trying out different angles and perspectives that I never imagined I could achieve. The footage I was capturing wasn&rsquo;t just &ldquo;good for a drone,&rdquo; it was good&mdash;period.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/WCzlL4B1fq2XYJJWAz3IMX2N0JzZKMM7K16m079o.jpg" alt="" width="460" height="613" />
It&rsquo;s incredible how something that started as an afterthought quickly became a central part of my life. The more I flew, the more I realized this wasn&rsquo;t just another tool&mdash;it was an extension of myself as a pilot and as a creator. Drones opened up a new kind of freedom. Unlike traditional aircraft, which require airports and long flight plans, drones could lift off almost anywhere. I could be in the middle of a forest, on a construction site, or at the edge of the ocean, and still be airborne in minutes.
Eventually, flying drones evolved from a side interest to a professional pursuit.
Now, I fly commercially using my Mavic 2 Pro, and it has become an integral part of my career. I&rsquo;ve also logged significant hours on the DJI Mini 3 Pro and the Matrice series, which opened up even more possibilities in terms of payloads and applications. Each drone has its own strengths&mdash;whether it&rsquo;s the lightweight flexibility of the Mini 3 Pro, the cinematic precision of the Mavic 2 Pro, or the industrial power of the Matrice.
Every project I take on is a new challenge. Whether I&rsquo;m shooting real estate footage, mapping terrain, documenting a construction site, or capturing a sunset over a coastline, I&rsquo;m always looking to push myself creatively and technically. I never stop learning&mdash;there&rsquo;s always a new maneuver, a new camera technique, a new airspace regulation to adapt to. And I welcome all of it.
One of the most rewarding parts of being a drone pilot is seeing how my work helps others. Whether it&rsquo;s delivering stunning aerial footage for a business, assisting with site surveys that save hours of labor, or even just giving someone a new perspective of a familiar place, there&rsquo;s a satisfaction that comes from creating value through flight.
Sometimes, I think back to when I first saw the Part 107 elective on that course list and laughed at how casually I brushed it off. I never imagined that drones would play such a major role in my professional life. But I&rsquo;m glad they did. They&rsquo;ve allowed me to merge my passion for flight with a growing fascination for visual storytelling and remote aviation technology.
What I love most about being a drone pilot is the freedom it offers&mdash;both creatively and professionally. Drones have a way of showing the world from a perspective that people rarely get to see. When I&rsquo;m in the air, framing the perfect shot or flying over an area I&rsquo;ve never explored before, there&rsquo;s a kind of thrill that&rsquo;s hard to describe. It&rsquo;s like painting with motion, using light and elevation instead of brushes and canvas.
At the same time, I never forget the responsibility that comes with the license. Flying drones&mdash;especially commercially&mdash;isn&rsquo;t just about cool footage or flying for fun. It&rsquo;s about safety, awareness, and respect for the airspace and the people around you. That&rsquo;s something I carry with me every time I lift off.
My background in manned aviation gave me a solid foundation, but it&rsquo;s my experience as a drone pilot that&rsquo;s helped me grow in ways I didn&rsquo;t expect. I&rsquo;ve learned to appreciate not just the technology behind drones, but the discipline and professionalism required to fly them. And perhaps more importantly, I&rsquo;ve learned never to underestimate an opportunity&mdash;even one that starts out with just a free drone.
Today, I consider myself lucky to be a part of the ever-evolving drone industry. I&rsquo;m proud of the work I do, the skills I&rsquo;ve developed, and the journey that brought me here. And while I still love the idea of flying commercial jets one day, I can honestly say that drones have earned their own place in my heart&mdash;and in my future.
<h5>Learn More</h5>
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&nbsp;

Pilot Story: Malik Norman

28 April 2025
<div class="mb-4 clearfix">
Chances are you may have missed the FAA's annual Drone Safety Day celebrations on April 26, but that doesn't mean you should avoid the opportunity to "Fly Right" every day of the year.
In fact, every 12 months, the FAA uses the day to remind the&nbsp;drone community of the importance of safe flying, as well as the contributions of drones to our communities. Educational events aligned with Drone Safety Day typically highlight education, environment, and emergency services.&nbsp;
The Fly Right theme stands for:
<ul>
<li>Register your drone&nbsp;</li>
<li>Interact with others</li>
<li>Gain knowledge</li>
<li>Have a safety plan</li>
<li><abbr>TRUST</abbr>&nbsp;and Train</li>
</ul>
</div>

Did You Miss Drone Safety Day?

25 April 2025
Houthi militants in Yemen managed to take down three U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drones this past week, bringing the militant group's kill score against Reapers to seven since March of this year, and a total of 15 since October 2023..
Since the Trump Administration's expanded air strikes again the Houthis a couple of weeks back, it is estimated, by White House press secretary Karoline Leavit, that more than 200 sorties have been launched. However, the Pentagon has said the air strikes have reached around 750 since March 15.
The military goal of what the United States has titled "Operation Rough Rider" is to stop the Houthis from continuing its attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
The loss of the U.S. Reaper drones isn't a huge number, of course, but given the fact that each MQ-9 costs $28 million&mdash;and the Air Force has a current inventory of just 280 of these drones&mdash;the destroyed combat UAVs can be considered significant.
In early April, the Operation Rough Rider air battle cost the United States approximately $200 million dollars in additional munitions, and it is estimated the figure may rise to $1 billion.
"The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen," said a spokesperson from U.S. Central Command regarding a recent strike at the Houthi-controlled Ras Isa Fuel Port. "This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully."
However, the U.S. military has had very limited success in obliterating Houthi drones, missiles, and command operations, as these combat supplies are protected in underground bunkers.
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U.S. Drones Shot out of the Sky by Houthis

24 April 2025
The next measure of America's trade war with China is now looming for drone technology, as U.S. authorities continue to consider a ban on Chinese manufacturers.
Companies such as Nvidia, Broadcom, AMD and the Dutch machine manufacturer ASML have already felt the effects of this in recent years. The USA wants to prevent China from catching up with the latest AI chips. Bans have already been imposed on the export of certain computer chips, as well as the machines used to produce them. Accordingly, companies must be prepared for the fact that the Chinese market has become a no-go area for some of them.
The race for technological leadership between the USA and China seems to be rapidly entering the next round. The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the Department of Commerce is examining a new regulation to restrict or even ban Chinese drones in the United States of America due to national security concerns. To date, Chinese companies, in particular DJI, have a market share of over 75 percent of the U.S. drone market. China's share of privately used hobby drones is more than 90 percent.
A ban on the products of these companies would completely transform the industry in the U.S. market and create a huge gap in America's drone market.
However, there is also opportunity.
With Chinese drones and accessories commanding such a high market share in the U.S., a new market worth billions would open up for Western companies if America outright bans or significantly restricts technology and products from China.
<a href="https://www.zenatech.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ZenaTech</a>, for example, offers AI-equipped drones, plans to leverage quantum computing, and is set to offer a Drone as a Service division, where the company will offer drone solutions on a pay-for-use bases such as for crop spraying and inventory management. In addition, ZenaTech took another step towards NDAA (National Defense Act Administration) compliance for its entire supply chain, as well as seeking applications for Green UAS and Blue UAS in order to be on the supplier list for the US defense complex and NATO.
ZenaTech is also expanding rapidly in the USA. Most recently, the subsidiary ZenaDrone moved into a production facility in Arizona to produce drones for the U.S. Department of Defense and NATO.
The facility produces and assembles ZenaDrone 1000 multifunctional autonomous AI drones for the U.S. military. ZenaTech has already expanded its market position through three acquisitions in the field of land surveying. The current focus is on the defense, warehouse-and-logistics, and agriculture sectors.
However, any bans or restrictions on Chinese providers could suddenly open the window to a larger accessible market accross government and commercial potential customers.&nbsp;
<h5>Learn More</h5>
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How Will Tariffs on China affect the U.S. drone industry?

23 April 2025
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="http://www.dzyne.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DZYNE Technologies</a>, a pioneer in autonomous defense systems, introduced the <a href="https://dzyne.com/counter-uas/#handheld" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dronebuster 4-EU,</a> an upgraded variant of its acclaimed handheld counter-drone system that incorporates both fixed site and wearable drone detection and visualization options for European customers. Specifically engineered to operate within European short-range device frequency bands, the 4-EU model addresses the escalating need for region-specific, adaptable counter-drone solutions across various sectors worldwide. In addition to providing users with the option to jam unwanted drones across a variety of EU-specific frequencies, the Dronebuster 4-EU also incorporates an optional PNT (Position, Navigation, and Timing) attack mode to neutralize satellite-controlled drones across the GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, or BeiDou constellations.
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<div class="col-sm-12">"The versatility of Dronebuster 4-EU empowers security personnel across sectors to effectively counteract unauthorized drones," added George Schwartz, EVP of Products at DZYNE. "Our commitment to innovation ensures that we continue to meet the diverse and evolving needs of our global customers."</div>
<div class="col-sm-12">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="col-sm-12">DZYNE's growing international impact is underscored by a recent multi-million-dollar contract award&nbsp;for Dronebuster&reg; from an undisclosed allied customer &mdash; further validating the system's global relevance and operational value.</div>
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"The proliferation of drones has introduced complex security challenges globally," said&nbsp;Matthew McCue, CEO of DZYNE Technologies. "The Dronebuster 4-EU provides security teams and infrastructure operators with adaptable, region-specific protection across diverse environments. To keep pace with surging demand, we have had to significantly increase production and personnel across engineering, production, and business development."
DZYNE's Counter-UAS portfolio has rapidly become one of the most trusted and operationally proven defense solutions worldwide. With more than 2,200 Dronebuster&reg; units sold globally&mdash;including over 1000 actively deployed with U.S. Armed Forces&mdash;Dronebuster is officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense as a Program of Record, further affirming its operational reliability and mission-critical role in counter-UAS operations. Alongside Dronebuster, DZYNE's broader C-UAS suite&mdash;including Sawtooth, ASP, and the newly introduced Dronebuster-FS&mdash;is currently deployed across 50+ countries, protecting critical infrastructure, military bases, borders, and high-threat environments.
The success and widespread adoption of these systems directly inspired the development of the Dronebuster 4-EU&mdash;a region-specific model tailored for compliance with European short-range device (SRD) frequency bands. Building on DZYNE's global operational footprint, the 4-EU delivers enhanced wearability, flexible deployment configurations, and integrated detection capabilities for mission-critical drone defense across European civil, military, and infrastructure applications.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/c0ghGexp4MGA6MHwqKNWlZcIGWzzUJG8gCCRN2b5.jpg" alt="" width="460" height="344" />
<h5 class="prntal">Key Use Cases Driving Global Demand</h5>
A surge in unlawful drone activity has amplified the necessity for robust counter-drone systems for civil and military users alike. The Dronebuster 4-EU is tailored to support a wide array of applications, including:
Critical Infrastructure Protection&nbsp;&ndash; Safeguarding power plants, water treatment facilities, and transportation hubs from unauthorized drone incursions that could disrupt operations or compromise safety.
Stadium and Event Security&nbsp;&ndash; Ensuring the safety of large gatherings by preventing potential drone-related threats during concerts, sports events, and public assemblies.
Secure Facility Defense&nbsp;&ndash; Protecting sensitive sites such as government buildings, research centers, and military installations from espionage or other malicious drone activities.
Airports&nbsp;&ndash; Preventing drone interference with aircraft operations and securing airspace around runways and terminals to protect passengers, personnel, and flight schedules.
Maritime Security&nbsp;&ndash; Defending vessels and maritime operations against drone threats, crucial for both commercial shipping and naval applications.
Border Surveillance and Point Defense&nbsp;&ndash; Enhancing border security by detecting and mitigating unauthorized drone crossings, aiding in the prevention of smuggling and unauthorized surveillance.
Dronebuster 4-EU is available for purchase in fixed site, mobile, and handheld configurations, offering maximum flexibility for users to implement a single or networked layered defense solution against unwanted drones. Paired with its Detect, Track, Identify, and Mitigate (DTIM) wearable solution, a single user can detect drones out to 7km away and accurately defeat out to1.5km or more.
<h5 class="prntal">Production Expansion to Meet Diverse Needs</h5>
In response to the growing demand across these sectors, DZYNE is scaling up operations at its&nbsp;Portland, Oregon&nbsp;manufacturing facility,&nbsp;including:
Increased Manufacturing Capacity &ndash; Enhancing production lines to deliver the Dronebuster 4EU to a global clientele promptly.
Workforce Growth&nbsp;&ndash; Creating new positions in engineering, production, and business development to support expanded operations and uphold stringent quality standards.
<h5 class="prntal">About DZYNE Technologies</h5>
DZYNE is a leading technology developer and manufacturer of airborne and ground-based autonomous defense solutions purpose-built to meet modern defense needs around the globe. The company's solutions encompass the entire autonomous defense lifecycle and include multiple U.S. Government Programs of Record across UAS and C-UAS technologies. DZYNE is proud to support U.S. and allied military and civil defense partners worldwide.
</div>
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</div>
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DZYNE Introduces Dronebuster 4-EU

21 April 2025
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/news/categories/brazzel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Timothy Brazzel</a>
Are you feeling stuck on your journey to becoming a certified Part 107 Drone Pilot? Overwhelmed by the amount of information, resources, or self-doubt clouding your path?
Let me assure you&mdash;you&rsquo;re not alone.
In this article, I want to speak directly to the discouraged, the unmotivated, the overwhelmed&hellip; the dreamers who feel like giving up.
After more than three years as a certified drone pilot, I&rsquo;ve experienced the highs and the lows, the setbacks and the victories. And I&rsquo;ve learned a few lessons that just might be what you need to hear right now. This isn't just about drones. It's about stepping fully into your purpose.
Let&rsquo;s dive into the three key truths I wish someone had told me when I started.
<h5 class="p3">Certification is Just the Beginning</h5>
Let&rsquo;s rewind the clock a bit.
I remember how I used to talk about my journey&mdash;how I spent four years preparing to take my Part 107 exam. Yep, four years. Not because I didn&rsquo;t want it badly&hellip; but because I allowed fear and self-doubt to delay my progress. I was overwhelmed by how much I needed to learn, and I was doing it all on my own&mdash;piecing together scattered YouTube videos and online content.
Now, don&rsquo;t get me wrong. There&rsquo;s tons of helpful information out there. But for my learning style, it wasn&rsquo;t structured or consistent enough. I needed something that walked me through the process, step-by-step, with clarity.
In January 2022, everything changed. I made a decision&mdash;I was all in. I discovered a platform called Remote Pilot 101, and I committed myself to finishing the course in one month. I dove into the lessons, took as many practice tests as possible, and when I felt confident, I scheduled my exam. February came, and I passed!
I share that with you because I want to remind you that the certification process is just the starting point. It&rsquo;s an amazing milestone, yes. But it&rsquo;s not the finish line. You don&rsquo;t want to stop at just getting certified.
Instead, use that momentum to position yourself for more. Continue learning, keep exploring, and put yourself out there to gain real experience. That&rsquo;s where growth happens. Add to your r&eacute;sum&eacute;, build your portfolio, and start creating opportunities that didn&rsquo;t exist before.
<h5 class="p3">You Don&rsquo;t Have to Know Everything&nbsp;</h5>
This one right here is big.
So many people&mdash;especially aspiring drone pilots&mdash;get caught in a perfectionist trap. You feel like you have to know everything before you can even begin. You tell yourself, "Once I finish this course&hellip; once I learn that technique&hellip; then I&rsquo;ll start."
But here&rsquo;s the truth: You don&rsquo;t need to know it all.
You just need to start.
When I first got certified, I didn't have a clue about LiDAR, 3D mapping, thermal imaging, or even drone inspections. But over time, I learned. I took jobs I felt under-qualified for and educated myself along the way. I made mistakes, sure&mdash;but those mistakes became lessons that leveled me up.
Knowledge is valuable, yes&mdash;but applied knowledge is what makes the difference. So if all you're doing is gathering information but never taking action, you're missing the point.
Start with what you know and grow from there.
Here&rsquo;s what I learned: every job, every client, every flight taught me something new. And when I didn&rsquo;t know something, I found out. That&rsquo;s how you build confidence.
Don&rsquo;t let the idea of &ldquo;not being ready&rdquo; stop you from becoming who you&rsquo;re called to be.
<h5 class="p3">Your Future Is Bigger Than Your Fear</h5>
I need you to hear this loud and clear:
Your fear is lying to you.
Fear tells you you&rsquo;re not good enough. That you&rsquo;ll fail. That you don&rsquo;t have what it takes. But let me remind you&mdash;your future is bigger than your fear.
Fear paralyzes. Confidence frees. And confidence is essential to becoming a skilled drone pilot.
If you let fear take the wheel, you&rsquo;ll never apply for that job, never take on that project, never launch that business. You&rsquo;ll remain stuck, standing on the edge of something amazing, too afraid to leap.
I&rsquo;ve been there. I get it. But if I hadn&rsquo;t taken the leap&mdash;if I let fear win&mdash;I never would have experienced what I&rsquo;m doing today.
Let me share this with you: Right now, I&rsquo;m working with a company called DronePower1. We clean solar panels using commercial drones tethered to a pressurized water line. It&rsquo;s a totally new venture for me&mdash;and let me tell you, it&rsquo;s nothing like flying a DJI Mavic. Different size. Different weight. Different flight dynamics. Different software. I had to learn new terminology, understand new systems, and get used to new safety protocols.
But because I had previous experience doing visual roof inspections with drones, I wasn't intimidated. I knew I had what it takes&mdash;and what I didn&rsquo;t know, I would learn.
So I stepped in with confidence&hellip; and it&rsquo;s been one of the most exciting learning experiences of my career.
And guess what? That opportunity came because I didn&rsquo;t let fear stop me. I didn&rsquo;t know it all. I wasn&rsquo;t an expert. But I said yes&mdash;and I grew into the role.
So now I&rsquo;m telling you: Say, yes.
Yes to the opportunity. Yes to the dream. Yes to the learning curve. Yes to the growth.
Everything begins with a decision. A decision to believe in yourself&mdash;even when it&rsquo;s hard. A decision to show up&mdash;even when it&rsquo;s uncomfortable. A decision to take action&mdash;even when fear says otherwise.
If you want to succeed in this drone space&mdash;or any space&mdash;it starts with what&rsquo;s happening in your mind.
You don&rsquo;t need all the gear. You don&rsquo;t need a million followers. You don&rsquo;t need to be the top expert in your field.
What you need is belief. Grit. Consistency. A willingness to learn and keep showing up.
Because the truth is ... You already have everything you need to get started.
You&rsquo;ve got this.&nbsp;
Let&rsquo;s fly higher&mdash;together.
<h5 class="p2">Watch This!</h5>
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If you&rsquo;re looking for more content like this&mdash;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Inspirewithdrones3342" target="_blank" rel="noopener">subscribe to my channel. </a>
We&rsquo;re building a community of passionate drone pilots, dreamers, and doers.

Don't Give Up On Your Drone Dreams

18 April 2025
By Michael Molenda, Editor
The impact of the Trump Administration's tariffs&mdash;whether they ultimately turn out to be a good thing for America or not&mdash;are having immediate effect. Perhaps not in pricing yet, as some of the tariffs have been paused, but certainly in corporate strategy, as businesses devise varied plans to manage revenue, manufacturing, inventory control, staffing, and other day-to-day concerns in the brave new world of global tariffs.
Obviously, goods from China are causing stratospheric worry as they touch almost every business.&nbsp;
In the music-product industry, for example, an electronic drum kit that costs around $325 to manufacture in China is looking at approximately $550 in tariffs, making the cost to the consumer more than double once conventional profit margins are calculated. The end result is that many music-industry manufacturers may need to cease Chinese manufacturing entirely&mdash;or significantly reduce their spend on goods from China&mdash;because many musicians will not be able to afford "made in China" instruments and technology.
And, by the way, much of the music-gear manufacturing will probably be shifted to "less tariffed" offshore factories (Indonesia, etc.), rather than brought back to America. The cost of building certain instruments in the United States remains prohibitive.
The drone industry, with its reliance on Chinese tech, products, and parts (batteries, etc.), is not going to be immune to tariffs. Duh.&nbsp;
Here are some ways that the tariffs imposed on China could affect the droning industry...
<h5 style="font-weight: 500;">We're Gonna Pay More for Drones</h5>
DJI is the biggest consumer drone manufacturer in the world. Think about what it means if a DJI dealer is compelled to pay a 145-percent tariff on new models to replace or increase inventory. Yeah. Not good for the pocketbook. And that's just for DJI. Expand the tariff impact to include other Chinese drone manufacturers, as well as accessories made in China. Then, we may be looking at a Defcon 2 scenario for the industry&mdash;speaking in fictional, sci-fi flick terms&mdash;could mean a stalled marketplace, stunted growth, and bankrupted retailers and distributors.
<h5>Supply Chains Won't Be, Well, Supply Chains&nbsp;</h5>
China controls a significant amount of the components U.S. drone makers need to build their products. An ongoing trade war with the United States&mdash;meaning reciprocal tariffs and even an end (or pause) of exported motors, batteries, sensors, and other made-in-China materials essential to drone manufacturing&mdash;would be catastrophic.&nbsp;
<h5>Changes to Where Drone Products Are Built</h5>
As with the music-gear example, some manufacturers may need to get "out of China" in order to ensure they can continue to offer affordable products to consumers. But abandoning factories and an already trained workforce in China won't be an easy decision. Yes, there are potentially less-tariffed options in countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and Mexico, for instance, but building new manufacturing facilities in those areas&mdash;as well as training workers to produce brand-dedicated products with high quality&mdash;could take years. And will corporations take a leap of faith to relocate manufacturing when a policy change within the Trump administration could make it all for naught by easing China tariffs?
<h5>That Roof Inspection Is Gonna Cost More</h5>
The service providers who offer drone roof inspections, real-estate promotions, and other benefits may need to rethink their business plans to absorb increased hardware and software costs. Higher equipment costs = higher service prices. The uncertainty may also cause, say, a realtor to go, "Yeah, maybe it's not the time right now to hire someone to film drone tours of my home inventory."&nbsp;
<h5>International BVLOS Flights Get Kicked to the Curb</h5>
Geopolitical tensions are seldom good for international cooperation. As rulemaking for beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights are being considered by the FAA and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the China-USA trade war, as well as America's standing with its neighbors north and south, could have an impact on agreed-upon, international regulations for drones that can fly across borders.&nbsp;
<h5>Investment in the Drone Industry Crashes (Temporarily)</h5>
In another, not-so-long-ago time, the swift and massive growth of the drone industry seduced significant investment. Now? Perhaps not so much. Market uncertainty and volatility aren't exactly promoting feel-good moments for investors.&nbsp;
<h5 style="font-weight: 500;">Hang On To Your Controllers</h5>
While the tariffs and trade wars can spell impending doom for the Chicken Littles of the world&mdash;and they obviously have good reason to scream that the sky is falling&mdash;business challenges can also open up business opportunities. Granted, it's probably a bad move to sit back and see how things play out. However, U.S. companies who have relied on technological innovation, need only embrace the potential shifts of a new normal, and transform their corporate strategies to flourish in a post-China business environment.
What are your thoughts?
Write us at <a href="mailto:mmolenda@thedroningcompany.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mmolenda@thedroningcompany.com</a>
&nbsp;

Are We Crewed or Screwed?

16 April 2025
<div class="halfway_hardwall_3">If you're a drone company trying to follow Donald Trump's "America First" mandate&mdash;good luck.</div>
<div class="halfway_hardwall_3">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="halfway_hardwall_3">At present, China controls approximately 90 percent of the commercial drone market across the planet, and the country also makes a significant amount of the airframes, batteries, and other essential hardware needed to manufacture drones.</div>
<div class="halfway_hardwall_3">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="halfway_hardwall_3">China could shut down the drone industry globally for a year,&rdquo; said Trent Emeneker, a team leader at the Pentagon&rsquo;s Defense Innovation Unit.</div>
<div class="halfway_hardwall_3">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="halfway_hardwall_3">Of course, this type of scenario is what the Trump Administration's tariffs are supposed to fight off, as it seeks to encourage American companies to source parts and build drones on U.S. soil. Unfortunately, building American drones here at home using solely U.S.-made parts could take years and a hefty level of investment. In the meantime, a Commerce Department chief legal officer Jai Ramaswamy has stated: &ldquo;Immediately removing all foreign adversary-based sources of supply for critical drone components would have a catastrophic effect on the American drone industry."</div>
<div class="halfway_hardwall_3">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="halfway_hardwall_3">Why are your thoughts...</div>
<div>
<div class="G9049W9y SfBp78q9 _1apm68B5 L996f LfzXb vKVY8 inlineAdContainer" tabindex="-1" role="presentation" aria-hidden="true" data-testid="ad-container">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

Opinion: Can the Drone Industry Erase China?

16 April 2025
Organizers of <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.expouav.com/?utm_source=marketo&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=cuave-ab-announcement-pr&amp;utm_content=attendee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commercial UAV Expo</a>, the world&rsquo;s leading commercial drone trade show and conference, have announced the 2025 Advisory Board. Composed of influential leaders across the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) ecosystem, the Advisory Board will help guide the development of conference programming, provide strategic insight, and support the event&rsquo;s ongoing mission to serve as the premier platform for commercial drone innovation.
The 11th edition of Commercial UAV Expo will take place September 2&ndash;4, 2025 at Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, and will build off last year&rsquo;s theme: &ldquo;Drones in Action: Current Realities &amp; Future Frontiers.&rdquo;
&ldquo;This year&rsquo;s Advisory Board reflects the full breadth of the unmanned aerial vehicles industry,&rdquo; said Lee Corkhill, Group Director at Diversified Communications, organizer of the event. &ldquo;Their expertise ensures that our programming stays practical, forward-thinking, and relevant for UAV professionals at every level.&rdquo;
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/bO3tBBYwtNMiN0vyc2MYEYEIpfKqYbxUMPAcjzTO.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="356" />
The 2025 Advisory Board includes experts representing drone manufacturing, pilots and field operations, service providers, software solutions providers, public safety, construction, energy, and beyond. These leaders bring deep experience and valuable insight into the current state and future potential of drone technology
<ul>
<li>Wayne Baker, Director of Stakeholder Engagement &ndash; DJI</li>
<li>Dallas Brooks, Aviation Outreach &amp; Standards Lead &ndash; Wing</li>
<li>Keaton Denzer, Chief UAS Pilot &ndash; Bechtel</li>
<li>Chris Fleming, CEO &ndash; Cyberhawk</li>
<li>Nitin Gupta, Founder &amp; CEO &ndash; FlytBase</li>
<li>Ashley Hanson, Unmanned Aviation Systems Manager &ndash; John Deere</li>
<li>Thomas Haun, President &ndash; Turner Staffing Group</li>
<li>Cynthia Huang, CEO &ndash; ACSL Inc.</li>
<li>Michael Leo, Captain &ndash; FDNY Robotics</li>
<li>Bobby Sakaki, CEO &ndash; UAS Nexus</li>
<li>Ben Stocker, Construction Technologist &ndash; Skender</li>
</ul>
To view full biographies of the 2025 Advisory Board members, visit <a href="https://www.expouav.com/advisory-board/?utm_source=marketo&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=cuave-ab-announcement-pr&amp;utm_content=attendee">www.expouav.com/advisory-board</a>
Registration for Commercial UAV Expo will open in May. Commercial drone professionals are encouraged to register early to secure discounted conference pricing and to fill out the <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.expouav.com/attend/?utm_source=marketo&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=cuave-ab-announcement-pr&amp;utm_content=attendee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Attendee Inquiry form</a> to receive updates about the event.
<h5>About Commercial UAV Expo</h5>
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.expouav.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commercial UAV Expo</a>, presented by <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.commercialuavnews.com/?utm_source=marketo&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=cuave-ab-announcement-pr&amp;utm_content=attendee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commercial UAV News</a>, is an international conference and expo exclusively focused on commercial UAS integration and operation. The event will take place September 2-4, 2025, at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, NV. For more information, visit <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.expouav.com/?utm_source=marketo&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=cuave-ab-announcement-pr&amp;utm_content=attendee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.expouav.com</a>&nbsp;
Commercial UAV Expo is produced by Diversified&rsquo;s technology portfolio, which also includes Commercial UAV News, Commercial UAV Forum, Geo Week, Geo Week Newsletter, Geo Business (UK), and Digital Construction Week (UK).

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