YDQA: Ep 130- "Can You Fly Over People Without a Waiver? Wingtra’s Category 3 Breakthrough Explained”

Can drone pilots legally fly over people under Part 107 without a waiver and what does Category 3 approval actually change?In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, host Chris Breedlove welcomes back Benton Szejk from Wingtra to break down the current state of operations over people in 2025. They cover what’s allowed under Part 107 today, how Category 3 works, and why Wingtra’s fully integrated parachute system is a major milestone for professional drone operations.The conversation also dives into Wingtra’s latest payload announcements, including ultra-high-resolution inspection capabilities, real-world use cases like airport runway inspections, pavement crack detection, and how AI-ready data is transforming surveying and infrastructure workflows.Topics covered include:What Category 3 operations over people really meanHow Wingtra achieved waiver-free approval under Part 107Practical use cases in urban, infrastructure, and public-asset mappingNew Wingtra payloads and inspection workflowsWhere drone regulations may be heading nextLearn how these advancements impact mapping, surveying, and inspection professionals working in complex, populated environments.https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/operations_over_peoplehttps://uasdoc.faa.gov/listDocs?docType=oophttps://wingtra.com/ Have a drone question for a future episode? Submit it at ydqa.io.

In this week’s episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, host Chris Breedlove sits down with Stefan Hrabar of Emesent to unpack one of the most important emerging technologies in the drone world: SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping).What exactly is SLAM? How does SLAM LiDAR differ from traditional LiDAR systems? Can SLAM work without GPS? And—most importantly—how can drone pilots, mapping professionals, and service providers actually use SLAM-based payloads in real-life missions?Stefan talks about:His robotics and autonomy background—from early USC drone research to global deploymentsHow SLAM evolved inside Australia’s CSIRO labsThe origins of Emesent and the development of the Hovermap systemThe difference between visual SLAM, LiDAR SLAM, and mixed-sensor approachesWhy SLAM is becoming essential for GPS-denied environmentsReal-world use cases: underground mining, bridge inspections, cell towers, indoor scans, stockpiles, and moreHow modern SLAM payloads integrate with platforms like the Freefly Astro and DJI enterprise dronesNew capabilities such as autonomous exploration, waypoint-based scanning, and constrained SLAM with RTK or control points🔗 Learn more about Emesent: https://emesent.com Search #Hovermap on LinkedIn to see real-world missions & customer workflows.Have a question you'd like answered on a future episode? Visit YDQA.io or email [email protected].

In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, we’re diving into one of the most in-demand (and misunderstood) drone inspection niches out there: cell tower inspections.Today’s question is this:👉 What are the real keys to success for drone pilots who want to work in the telecom inspection world?To tackle this topic, we are joined by Hunter Ardrey, a drone industry veteran who has spent years flying structural, utility, renewable energy, and telecom missions across the southeast.Together, we break down:🔹 The scale of the telecom inspection industry 🔹 What rads (antenna arrays) are and why they matter 🔹 How digital twins are captured and delivered 🔹 What equipment is (and isn’t) used in real-world tower work 🔹 Manual vs automated tower-capture workflows 🔹 Accuracy requirements and image-quality standards 🔹 How tower work compares to inspecting other infrastructure 🔹 Whether new pilots can still break into this niche todayHunter also shares an honest look at the current state of the telecom market, including pricing pressure, big-player consolidation, and practical paths for new pilots who want to build skills and get experience.If you’ve ever wondered how cell tower inspections actually work — or whether this niche makes sense for your drone business — this episode lays it all out.Have a question you want answered on the show? 📩 Submit anytime at YDQA.io or email [email protected]

In this week’s episode of Your Drone Questions Answered, brought to you by Drone Launch Academy, host Chris Breedlove sits down with Kayla McCoy of Wilkes County Soil & Water Conservation District in North Carolina to explore unexpected and innovative ways thermal drones are transforming conservation work.From monitoring rotational grazing systems and improving soil health policies to detecting hotspots in poultry composters and even locating hidden streams through dense foliage, Kayla shares real-world examples of how drones are revolutionizing agriculture and environmental management.You’ll learn: 🚜 How thermal imaging supports sustainable farming and water quality initiatives 🌾 The data-driven discoveries that helped change state policy 🐔 How drones improve biosecurity and efficiency in poultry operations 💧 Why thermal sensors outperform standard cameras for detecting water flowIf you’re curious about new frontiers in drone mapping and thermal imaging, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss! https://www.wilkesswcd.org/

Welcome to Your Drone Questions. Answered from Drone Launch Academy. Host Chris Breedlove sits down with Tom Searing (Seiler GeoDrones) to tackle a hot late-2025 question: Can U.S. operators finally run a truly American-made, NDAA-friendly, end-to-end LiDAR stack—from airframe to sensor to workflow?What you’ll learn:What “end-to-end” LiDAR actually looks like for U.S. teams (airframe → payload → planning → processing → export)A quick tour of Flux payload options (H1 / O1 / L1) and when each makes senseHow the Flow app simplifies setup, status checks, processing, and exporting in the fieldMission-planning notes (calibrations, overlaps, orthogonal passes) and why dual-antenna GNSS mattersCost model highlights: Flow is included with the sensor (no annual software fee), plus an optional Verizon Hyper Precise RTK subscription if you want always-on RTK; PPK remains viableField-friendly data handling: scan, verify a quick point-cloud render on the tablet, export LAZ/LAS, and goAvailability & demand outlook as we head toward early 2026 ramp-upConnect with Tom and check out Freefly Flux:https://freeflysystems.com/fluxhttps://freefly.gitbook.io/astro-public/other-user-manuals/freefly-payloads/[email protected] https://www.seilergeodrones.com/Have a question for a future episode? Send it in and we’ll tackle it on the show: [email protected] or visit ydqa.io.

In this episode of Your Drone Questions Answered, Drone Launch Academy founder David Young steps in to explore how drones are reshaping high school education across the U.S.David breaks down what Career and Technical Education (CTE) means, how industry-recognized credentials work, and why more states are adding the Part 107 drone license to their official CTE credential lists. You’ll learn:Which states are already funding drone programs for studentsHow schools are building full drone technology pathways (like North Carolina and Florida)What kind of real jobs high school grads can get with a Part 107 licenseAnd how drone classes are helping students stay engaged and even graduateWhether you’re an educator, parent, or drone enthusiast, this episode will open your eyes to how drones are preparing the next generation for tech-driven careers.Check out our Drone Launch Learning website to see how you can incorporate drones in your high school: https://dronelaunchlearning.com/

In this week’s episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, host Chris Breedlove sits down with Will Dawson, attorney and founder of the Agricultural Drone Initiative (ADI), to explore how new federal policies could shape the future of agricultural drone use in the U.S.Will shares his journey from growing up on a seven-generation farm in Virginia to leading national advocacy for smarter drone regulations. Together, they unpack the ongoing DJI policy debate, the misconceptions around drone bans, and what these changes could mean for farmers, manufacturers, and policymakers alike.You’ll learn:Why ADI was created to bridge the gap between farmers and lawmakersThe real number of agricultural drone operators in the U.S.How the 2025 NDAA and DJI restrictions could affect drone availabilityWhat buyback programs and American-made alternatives like Hylio might look likeHow smarter drone policy can protect both innovation and national security👉 Learn more about the Agricultural Drone Initiative at https://agdroneinitiative.org/ 👉 Submit your questions for future episodes at ydqa.io or email [email protected]

Welcome back to Your Drone Questions. Answered, brought to you by Drone Launch Academy! This week, we’re diving into a listener-suggested topic: GNSS post-processing services. If you’re flying mapping missions and need to establish accurate base station coordinates for your PPK (post-processed kinematic) workflow, services like OPUS and Trimble CenterPoint RTX can be game-changers.In this episode, I break down:What GNSS post-processing services are and why they matter for drone pilotsA comparison between OPUS (NGS/NOAA, U.S.) and Trimble CenterPoint RTXLogging best practices (intervals, duration, and timing of uploads)Key limitations, including constellation support and receiver compatibilityPractical advice on when and how to use these services in your workflowWe’ll also touch on how these tools compare to other correction methods like RTK networks, and why understanding what’s happening “behind the scenes” is valuable when evaluating cloud-based processing platforms.🎧 For more background on RTK vs. PPK workflows, check out Episode 101 of the show.🔗 Resources mentioned in this episode:https://geodesy.noaa.gov/OPUS/https://trimblertx.com/Home.aspx

In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, host Chris Breedlove sits down with Brandon Beal from Elevation Aerial Application to explore how UAV spraying drones are changing the future of agriculture. 🌱Brandon shares his journey from aviation into agriculture, explains how drones like the DJI T40 opened up scalable opportunities for farm spraying, and discusses the real-world impact drones are having on tree farms, row crops, and pastureland in Virginia.We dive into:Why drones are more effective than traditional spraying methods in tough terrainHow UAVs reduce reliance on migrant labor while boosting consistencyThe business case for spraying 50 acres an hourThe future of ag drones in the U.S. amid changing regulations and technologyWhether you’re a farmer, drone pilot, or just curious about the intersection of UAVs and agriculture, this conversation is packed with insights into where the industry is heading.👉 Connect with Brandon and Elevation Aerial Application on LinkedIn and social media.https://www.elevationaerialapplication.com/[email protected]://agdroneinitiative.org/ 👉 Got a drone question for us? Submit it at ydqa.io

In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, host Chris Breedlove sits down with drone repair and FPV expert Wade Holbrook to explore the world of DIY repairs and custom builds.We cover:The easiest, most common drone repairs pilots can do themselvesMust-have tools and parts to keep in your go bag for fieldworkHow learning to solder can save you time (and money) on the jobThe pros and cons of building custom drones vs. buying off-the-shelf modelsInsights into open-source platforms, coding, and UI challengesReal-world stories of repairs that saved entire missionsWhether you’re a commercial pilot, hobbyist, or curious about building your own drone, this episode will give you practical advice and inspiration to get hands-on with your gear.🔗 Learn more about Wade and DSLR Pros: https://www.dslrpros.com 💡 Got a drone question for a future episode? Visit ydqa.io