Episodes

  • Drone Pilot Education: The Key to Safety in the NAS with Dr. Scott Burgess, Associate Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
    Jan 19 2023

    Thank you again to Dr. Scott Burgess for being on the B4UFLY Check the Map podcast to share his expertise with the Aloft community and thank you everyone for tuning into today’s episode. 

    If you are interested in learning more about Embry Riddle University and the educational opportunities offered there, visit https://erau.edu/.

    Guest Bio:

    Dr. Burgess is an Associate Professor at the Department of Flight, College of Aeronautics of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  His aviation experience expands over a 37-year career in both military and civil aviation organizations. He is a qualified pilot and instructor in numerous military and civilian helicopters, as well as a certified AUVSI Remote Pilot Instructor. His extensive background in both crewed and uncrewed aviation have intersected with a career in aviation education and research as he has published research in the helicopter safety and UAS disciplines and has been a part of three FAA ASSURE grants researching traditional and sUAS aviation operations, helicopter and sUAS safety, and uncrewed aircraft systems applications.

    Look forward to connecting with you next week for our next Aloft Community Q&A Tuesday episode to answer one of your questions about a drone airspace challenge area, situational awareness topics, or general UAS operational question 

    If you would like to submit a question for discussion on an upcoming episode, please email your question to erica@aloft.ai.  And as always fly safe and fly often.

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    49 mins
  • Aloft Community Q&A Tuesday: How to safely and compliantly start flying a drone recreationally and commercially?
    Jan 10 2023

    Thank you to Aloft community member, Mike T. For your great question which we discussed today and to everyone for listening to today’s episode.

    Show notes links:

    View a list of TRUST Test Administrators here.

    Download the FAA’s mobile app, B4UFLY app on your iOS or Android here.

    Read our blog about the different types of controlled airspace, Class B, C, D, and E2, and how they can impact drone operations here.

    Read more about the full process of obtaining a Part 107 commercial drone license, click here to navigate to the FAA’s website.

    If you’d like to read more in-depth about recreational and commercial drone pilot requirements, check out our new blog here.

    If you would like to submit a question for discussion on an upcoming episode, please email your question to erica@aloft.ai.  And as always fly safe and fly often.

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    11 mins
  • The ABCs of Airspace Types- Part 3: Restricted Airspaces with FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist, Sebastian Yanguas
    Dec 14 2022

    Thank you for tuning into the final episode of Season 1 of the B4UFLY Check the Map Podcast sponsored by Aloft! For this episode, your host, Erica Cooley, Aloft’s Head of Community is joined by guest, Sebastian Yanguas, Air Traffic Control Specialist at the FAA to discuss the different types of restricted airspaces in the NAS. This episode features a clip from a longer webinar on this topic. Watch the full webinar on restricted airspaces with Sebastian here.

    Guest Bio:

     Sebastian Yanguas is a Certificated Flight Instructor and has been flying since 2011. He has been part of the FAA since 2018. He was active duty Air Force and is now part of the DC Air National Guard for 15 years.  Sebastian received his BS from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Aeronautics.

    Links from the episode:

    Watch the full webinar from Part 1 of the webinar series and read the full blog on the different types of controlled airspace at https://www.aloft.ai/blog/the-abcs-of-national-airspace-types-part-1-controlled-airspaces/

    Watch the full webinar from Part 2 of the webinar series and read the full blog on the different types of special-use airspace at https://www.aloft.ai/blog/the-abcs-of-national-airspace-types-part-2-special-use-airspaces/

    Learn how to apply for a further coordination request LAANC authorization on Aloft Air Control's mobile app and web dashboard at https://www.aloft.ai/blog/how-to-apply-for-a-further-coordination-laanc-authorization-request-on-aloft-air-control-mobile-and-web-dashboard/

    Read the full study and view an interactive map on data about Further Coordination Request Response rates from ATC around the country: https://www.aloft.ai/blog/aloft-launches-new-fleet-utm-capabilities-surpassing-84-of-laanc-airspace-authorizations-in-september

    From myself and the entire, Aloft team, we thank you for joining us for this first season of the B4UFLY Check the Map podcast. We are excited to kick off Season 2 of the B4UFLY Check the Map podcast starting in January 2023 to continue providing educational discussions on  drone airspace challenge areas, situational awareness topics, or general UAS operational questions. If you would like to submit a question for discussion on an upcoming episode, please email your question to erica@aloft.ai. 

    Wishing you all a very happy and safe holiday season and look forward to connecting again in the new year. And as always fly safe and fly often.

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    26 mins
  • The ABCs of Airspace Types- Part 2: Special Use Airspaces with FAA "Drone Guy", Kevin Morris
    Oct 27 2022

    Watch the full B4UFLY Check the Map Part 2: Special Use Airspaces webinar with FAA Drone Guy, Kevin Morris on demand at https://youtu.be/iX-ZNX0NFqM

    If you have a drone airspace challenge area, situational awareness topics, or general UAS operational question you would like discussed in an upcoming episode please email your question to erica@aloft.ai.

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    37 mins
  • Announcing the Women in Emerging Aviation Technologies Awards 2022 with Women and Drones CEO, Sharon Rossmark
    Oct 18 2022

    Thank you for tuning into today's episode of the B4UFLY Check the Map podcast sponsored by Aloft.

    Learn more about the Women and Drones 6th Annual Women in Emerging  Aviation Technologies Awards at https://womenanddrones.com/2022-global-awards/.

    Follow Women and Drones on Instagram , Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn .

    If you are interested in continuing to gain more knowledge about the different types of airspace in the NAS which can impact drone operations, join Aloft Head of Community, Erica Cooley & guest host, Kevin Morris, FAA Drone Guy for October’s B4UFLY Check the Map webinar, The ABCs of National Airspace Types: Part 2- Caution Airspaces: Stadiums, Local Layers, MOAs. We will discuss the different types of cautionary airspaces in the NAS including stadiums and presidential TFRs, local layers, SFRAs, MOAs, how these types of airspace may impact drone operations, and how to identify each on the B4UFLY map by color.  The webinar will take place Wednesday, October 26th at 11 am Pacific/ 2 pm Eastern.

    Register for the upcoming webinar at https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/register/rxyyvdfx

    If you have a drone airspace challenge area, situational awareness topics, or general UAS operational question you would like discussed in an upcoming episode please email your question to erica@aloft.ai.

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    26 mins
  • Welcome to Air Control Individual Drone Operators with Aloft CEO, Jon Hegranes and Aloft CTO, Joshua Ziering
    Oct 4 2022

    Thank you for tuning into today's episode of the B4UFLY Check the Map podcast sponsored by Aloft.

    From the entire team at Aloft, we are sending thoughts and prayers to those impacted by Hurricane Ian. For drone operators who live in the Florida area, please make sure to read the Hurricane Recovery Advisory from the FAA on the B4UFLY  platform here.

    For individual pilots, get started using Aloft Air Control for checking airspace advisories, applying for LAANC, managing your assets, creating pre-flight and post-flight workflows, and more! 

    To ensure your smooth transition to Aloft Air Control, here are three easy steps to get started using the Air Control platform for all your airspace and operational management needs:

    1. Sign up for a free account on https://air.aloft.ai/. *Register under the same email address and you’ll have the option to migrate your data over.
    2. Download the Air Control mobile apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
    3. Update your profile information on mobile or web to start applying for LAANC today.

    If you need additional help getting started on Aloft Air Control or have feedback, please reach out directly to the Aloft team at support@aloft.ai.

    If you are a representative from an authoritative agency, navigate to https://geo.aloft.ai/sign-up and create a free account. Learn more about Aloft Geo Portal here. 

    If you are interested in continuing to gain more knowledge about the different types of airspace in the NAS which can impact drone operations, join Aloft Head of Community, Erica Cooley & guest host, Kevin Morris, FAA Drone Guy for October’s B4UFLY Check the Map webinar, The ABCs of National Airspace Types: Part 2- Caution Airspaces: Stadiums, Local Layers, MOAs. We will discuss the different types of cautionary airspaces in the NAS including stadiums and presidential TFRs, local layers, SFRAs, MOAs, how these types of airspace may impact drone operations, and how to identify each on the B4UFLY map by color.  The webinar will take place Wednesday, October 12th at 11 am Pacific/ 2 pm Eastern.

    Register for the upcoming webinar at https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/register/futfsdph

    If you have a drone airspace challenge area, situational awareness topics, or general UAS operational question you would like discussed in an upcoming episode please email your question to erica@aloft.ai.

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    17 mins
  • The ABCs of the National Airspace Types: Part 1-Controlled Airspaces with FAA Drone Guy, Kevin Morris
    Aug 10 2022

    This week's guest host, Kevin Morris, FAA Drone Guy is a subject matter expert on UAS operations, who coordinates UAS communications for the Federal Aviation Administration. Previously, he worked in the FAA’s Flight Standards Service, developing regulations, policy, and programs for drones. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation, an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, Remote Pilot Certificate, and is a Certified Flight Instructor. A native of Minnesota, Morris is passionate about embracing new technology and empowering the drone community to operate safely.

     

    Watch the full B4UFLY Check the Map Webinar: The ABCs of National Airspace Types Webinar: Part 1- Controlled Airspaces with FAA "Drone Guy", Kevin Morris on-demand at https://youtu.be/QauVxg2by-U.

     

    If you are interested in continuing to gain more knowledge about the different types of airspace in the NAS which can impact drone operations, join Aloft Head of Community, Erica Cooley & guest host, Kevin Morris, FAA Drone Guy for August’s B4UFLY Check the Map webinar, The ABCs of National Airspace Types: Part 2- Caution Airspaces: Stadiums, Local Layers, MOAs. We will discuss the different types of cautionary airspaces in the NAS including stadiums and presidential TFRs, local layers, SFRAs, MOAs, how these types of airspace may impact drone operations, and how to identify each on the B4UFLY map by color.  The webinar will take place Wednesday, August 17th at 11 am Pacific/ 2 pm Eastern.

     

    Register for the upcoming webinar at https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/register/wjtuszer

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    32 mins
  • The Past, Present, and Future of the Evolving Drone Industry with Scott Strimple, Chief Pilot at Sonoran Desert Institute
    Jul 28 2022

     Scott Strimple is the chief pilot and active flight instructor for the Sonoran Desert Institute School of Uncrewed Technology. He is an airline captain and FAA check airman for a major airline with many years of experience in aviation. He is an evangelist for migrating a healthy manned aviation safety culture into the world of uncrewed aircraft.  He has been a keynote speaker at many industry symposiums, previous executive committee chairperson for the ASTM F38.03 working group authoring standards for sUA training, and a multiple Emmy award-winning aerial cinematographer.

    Learn more about Sonoran Desert Institute School of Uncrewed Technology at https://www.sdi.edu/programs/certificate-in-unmanned-technology/.

    Interested in learning more about the types of airspace you may encounter in your drone operations?

    Join Aloft Head of Community, Erica Cooley & guest host, Kevin Morris, FAA Drone Guy for August’s B4UFLY Check the Map webinar, The ABCs of National Airspace Types: Part 2- Caution Airspaces: Stadiums, Local Layers, MOAs. We will discuss the different types of cautionary airspaces in the NAS including stadiums, local layers, MOAs, how these types of airspace may impact drone operations, and how to identify each on the B4UFLY map by color. We will close out the webinar with a live audience Q&A. Register for the free webinar at https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/register/wjtuszer

    If you have a drone airspace challenge area, situational awareness topics, or general UAS operational question you would like discussed in an upcoming episode please email your question to erica@aloft.ai.

    Subscribe for new episodes released bi-weekly. And as always fly safe and fly often.

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    41 mins