Red Raven UAS Podcast
REAL TRAINING. REAL MISSIONS. REAL TALK.
The Red Raven UAS Podcast brings you straight into the world of modern drone operations—from Part 107 prep to public safety, DFR, and beyond. Each episode features actionable insights, field-tested strategies, and conversations that go beyond the manual. Whether you’re a new pilot, a training officer, or leading an enterprise UAS team, this is where you stay sharp, stay current, and stay ahead.
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Red Raven UAS Weekly Briefing: The U.S. Drone Industrial Base Surge, the DJI Ban Narrative Cracks, and Matternet Goes Public (May 29, 2026)
A double-shot kind of week: federal money pulling the U.S. drone industry into a new gear, DJI's security audit lands, the FCC adds three conditional approvals, Matternet moves into the public markets, and a Louisiana DA quietly builds the best small-agency public safety funding model we've seen this year.
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)
We walk through six stories from a big week in drones — Ontario's ban on Chinese-made drones, the Pentagon's up-to-$500 million counter-drone contract, the Dallas Drone as First Responder launch, drone delivery's expansion, and Kansas City's World Cup drone defense network — and what each one means for you.
You Passed the FAA Part 107 Exam. Now What?
The score sheet isn't your certificate. Here's the complete roadmap from passing the FAA Part 107 exam to landing your first paid drone job.
UAS Weekly Briefing — May 8, 2026: FAA Targets Critical Infrastructure Airspace, BVLOS Road Map Is Official, and DJI Has Until May 11
The FAA proposed permanent drone restrictions around critical infrastructure while releasing the first official BVLOS road map. Plus: the DJI FCC comment window closes May 11. Listen to this week’s Red Raven UAS Weekly Briefing.
UAS Weekly Briefing — May 1, 2026: Drones Over New York - Drone Delivery Enters America’s Most Complex Airspace
This week’s Red Raven UAS Podcast looks at drone delivery moving into New York City, what the East River cargo drone operation means for BVLOS approval, and how urban airspace is changing. We also cover the reported 737 drone scare near San Diego, Skydio’s $3.5B U.S. manufacturing expansion, DHS counter-UAS guidance, and Ukraine’s record month of drone warfare.
Red Raven UAS Weekly Briefing: A $1.5 Billion Vacuum, 10-Day Plea Deals, and the End of the Flying Camera
DJI's $1.5 billion FCC reality just opened a vacuum in the U.S. drone market. We unpack what's filling it — SkyRover and the rise of clone manufacturers, the FAA's new DETER program with 10-day plea deals and Remote ID enforcement, and the photogrammetry pivot that's redefining what a commercial drone actually is.
UAS Weekly Briefing Apr 17, 2026 | DJI Isn't Slowing Down
Every layer of the drone ecosystem moved this week. DJI’s closing US window, Hyfix’s $15M chip round, AeroVironment’s MAYHEM 10, $270M Air Force contract, $29B counter-drone spending, and record Part 107 test volumes with declining pass rates.
Why People Fail the FAA Part 107 Exam — And What to Do Before Your Retake
In this episode, we break down exactly what causes most Part 107 failures — and it is almost never about intelligence or flying ability. It comes down to preparation method. The right method takes 10 to 20 hours. The wrong method takes 40 hours and ends in a $175 retake fee.
Nobody Is Replacing DJI | UAS Weekly Briefing — April 10, 2026
This episode of the Red Raven UAS Podcast breaks down why nobody is replacing DJI, what the end of the Mavic 2 era means for operators, Amazon's drone delivery backlash, FAA Drone Safety Day, Washington County's DFR arrest, and the PX4 security flaw.
Weekly Drone Briefing: FCC Drone Dominance, Nuclear Base Swarms & the Future of Autonomous Aviation
This week’s Weekly Drone Briefing covers FCC drone dominance, nuclear base drone swarms, drone delivery expansion, and the future of autonomous aviation — with clear takeaways for operators and agencies.
What It Actually Costs to Start a Drone Program
Most organizations budget for a drone but not the program. We break down what it actually costs — from $5K starter setups to $150K+ enterprise operations — including the hidden costs nobody plans for.
Why Utility Drone Programs Fail — And How to Build One That Works
Most utility drone programs fail not because of the equipment — but because nobody built the program behind it. Here's everything you need to know to build a utility drone inspection program that actually delivers ROI.
Drone Training for Fire Departments: What Part 107 Doesn't Teach You on the Fire Ground
Your fire department has a drone. Your pilots are Part 107 certified. So why does everything fall apart at 2 AM on the fire ground? We break down the gap between legal certification and operational readiness — thermal camera misreads, stress physiology, voltage sag, and what scenario-based fire training actually looks like.
Conquering Airspace: Part 107 Airspace Explained (Without the Confusion)
Airspace is the number one reason people fail the Part 107 exam. We break it down into a simple, repeatable framework — controlled vs uncontrolled, how LAANC works, how to read blue vs magenta lines on sectional charts, and the testing supplement cheat code that removes the need to memorize every symbol.
Pass FAA Part 107 in 2026: Study Plan + Common Traps
The FAA Part 107 exam is the gatekeeper to flying drones professionally — and in 2026, Remote ID and night operations updates make old advice risky. We break down what's on the test, the traps that cause most people to fail, and a realistic study strategy that works.
DJI “Drone Ban” Explained. What the FCC Actually Changed and What to Do Next
The FCC just made a major move on foreign-made drones and headlines are creating confusion. We explain exactly what the covered list ruling does, what it does not do, who it affects, and what agencies and enterprise teams should do right now to protect their programs.
Drones in Firefighting: The Ultimate Force Multiplier
Learn how fire departments use drones as a force multiplier for structural fires, wildfires, SAR, and hazmat response. Red Raven UAS breaks down thermal imaging, DFR, and program building.
Drone as First Responder: How DFR Transforms Public Safety
Drone as First Responder is changing emergency response nationwide. We break down how DFR works, what the infrastructure looks like, how law enforcement and fire departments use it, and what it takes to build a compliant program from the ground up.
Part 107: How to Become a Certified Remote Pilot
What is the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, who legally needs it, and how do you get it? We break down the history, the exam, the full certification process, and how Red Raven helps pilots and teams get certified quickly.
About The Production
The Red Raven Weekly Briefing combines human editorial direction, industry analysis, and AI-assisted narration to deliver fast, consistent coverage of the evolving drone industry.
Topics, research, commentary direction, and final editorial oversight are managed by Red Raven UAS.
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Pass Part 107 with Confidence
Pass the FAA Part 107 exam and build real-world understanding that goes beyond the test.
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Scenario-based, on-site training built for public safety, utilities, and enterprise operations.
Build a Drone Program That Works
We help you design, implement, and scale a complete UAS program from the ground up.