Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast

Code: CARIBBEAN100 Discount: $100 off an Exhibit Hall Only Pass or a Full Conference Pass Direct registration link (code pre-applied): https://www.xpressreg.net/register/UAVA0926/landing.php?sc=CARIBBEAN100 Devon McKellop episode  Brian Smith episodes - Episode 1 | Episode 2  Ram Fish / 19Labs episode The Caribbean drone industry had a big June.  In this month's Caribbean Drone News, Alan Gab...

COMMERCIAL UAV EXPO 2026 — EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT Use code CARIBBEAN100 to save $100 on an Exhibit Hall Pass or Full Conference Pass. Register here (code pre-applied): https://www.xpressreg.net/register/UAVA0926/landing.php?sc=CARIBBEAN100 Matt Collins has spent the last year learning the commercial drone industry from the inside — as the man who shapes the program at Commercial UAV Expo and runs edit...

Ershad Mahamad walked away from a 20-year career maintaining aircraft for Caribbean Airlines and Bombardier — and came home to Guyana to build the country's first commercial drone company. What followed was five years of regulatory groundwork, ExxonMobil certifications, 12-subject training programmes, and a 31-person operation covering agriculture, oil and gas, mining, and now drone delivery....

Manoel Coelho has built what most drone founders only talk about: a commercially operating delivery network flying in 14 countries, powered by aircraft his company manufactures and never sells. As CEO of Speedbird Aero — Latin America's first BVLOS-certified drone operator — Manoel walks Alan through how a telemedicine startup in Arizona became the company powering the Royal Mail's first...

Discover how one global network is quietly shaping the future of drones, robotics, and AI across the entire energy industry — and why the Caribbean is more connected to this movement than you might think. Sean Guerre, Executive Director of the Energy Drone and Robotics Coalition (EDRC), sits down with Alan to trace the organisation's journey from a 150-person event to a global network of over...

From basement beginnings in Hungary to drones flying in 25 countries — this week's episode is for anyone who believes that the future of agriculture and infrastructure is aerial, and that Europe has a seat at the table. Alan sits down with Károly Ludvigh, CEO and co-founder of ABZ Innovation, a Hungarian company that got fed up with poor-performing spray drones and simply decided to build the...

Turn a toy into a career — James Tobon of Drone Training School USA breaks down exactly how that transformation happens. James Tobon started with a Christmas gift drone and turned it into one of the most recognised drone training operations in the United States. In this episode, he shares how he built Drone Training School USA from scratch, why professional certification matters more than ever, an...

After Hurricane Melissa, one Jamaican organisation stepped up to coordinate 26+ drone pilots and nearly 30 international organisations in what may be the largest drone disaster response effort in history. Here's how they did it — and what they're building next. Dr. Valrie Grant, founder of Jamaica Flying Labs and Geotech Vision, joins the podcast to unpack the Hurricane Melissa drone res...

This is the March 2026 edition of Caribbean Drone News, your monthly roundup covering the stories shaping how drones are being used across the region. From grassroots STEM programs to international aerospace partnerships, this month's edition is packed with proof that the Caribbean is not just consuming drone technology — it is creating it. Dragonfly Drone Kids 2026 details: July 13–16, 2026...

3 hours. 11 minutes. 53 seconds. One battery charge. A Guinness World Record and that's not even the most impressive part of what SiFly is building. David Mazar, Chief Strategy Officer at SiFly and 12-year Boeing veteran, joins the Pilots of the Caribbean podcast to break down exactly how the Q12 achieves what most people in the drone industry thought was impossible — and what the company is...

Michael Joseph started farming in Antigua in September 2019 — just weeks before Covid hit. He had no drone experience. During lockdown, he was scrolling YouTube and came across an ad for a DJI agricultural spray drone. It took him three years to save enough to buy one. In 2025, at 22 years old, he became the youngest person ever to win the CARICOM Young Farmer of the Year Award. He found out the w...

He's back. The most-viewed guest episode in Caribbean drone podcast history just got a sequel — and it's bigger than the first. Brian Smith, founder of Dragonfly Drones & Geospatial Solutions in Guyana, joins us for the first guest episode of 2026 with a year's worth of breakthroughs. Gas-powered drone deployments deep in the jungle. Advanced LiDAR training in Miami. A competiti...

Your monthly Caribbean drone news is back! In this February 2026 edition we cover three major stories shaping drone use across the region. 🚁 BAHAMAS — The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) donates surveillance drones to the Bahamian government to combat illegal firearms trafficking and enhance border monitoring across the archipelago. 🦟 CAYMAN ISLANDS — The Mosquito Research and Control Unit...

As we kick off 2026, we are looking back at the lessons learnt from 2025. We gathered the answers from our guests on what they wish they knew before entering their industries. Discover how the industry has shifted from simple photography to complex regulatory landscapes and what the next generation of pilots can learn from their experiences. Get the Drone Pilot Checklist ! The Pilots of the Caribb...

In our final episode of 2025, we cover the major shifts in Caribbean drone technology and the global regulatory shocks affecting the industry. We dive into Belize's new high-endurance maritime patrol capabilities, Guyana's ambitious plan to become a regional drone logistics hub, and the massive implications of the latest FCC ban on foreign-made drones. DJI - Suspension of Service Page Th...

In this episode of the Pilots of the Caribbean podcast, join us as we delve into the fascinating world of drones with Randall Warnes, CEO of Anzu Robotics. Randall discusses his journey through the drone industry, from starting the first brick-and-mortar drone store in the US to leading major roles at DJI, FLIR, and Autel Robotics. He shares insights on the challenges and opportunities in the dron...

Greg Reverdiau, co-founder of Pilot Institute, joins the Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast to deliver a masterclass on the state of the drone industry, regulation, and education. A veteran aviation professional, Greg shares the journey from his commercial pilot days to building a platform that has helped nearly half a million students earn their wings. We dive deep into Pilot Institute’s successful...

In this episode of the Pilots of the Caribbean podcast, we welcome Kyle Miller, a Solutions Engineer from the DJI enterprise team, to discuss the latest advancements in drone technology. Kyle shares his decade-long experience in the UAV industry, starting from his college days building his own drones for precision agriculture, to his current role at DJI focusing on construction, mining, surveying,...

TTCAR19: https://caa.gov.tt/licensing-certification/unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-drones/ The Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA) has proposed significant updates to the laws governing drones. This video talks about the proposed changes, including new categories for UAS registration, mandatory awareness sessions for all drone owners, and operator certification processes. The propo...

Please fill out this form if your organization would like to join the national drone response efforts led by Jamaica Flying Labs in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa: https://bit.ly/Jamaica-drone-response-melissa In this special episode, we are joined by Dr. Valrie Grant, founder of Jamaica Flying Labs, and Mr. Philip Hippolyte, Senior Program Manager at the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT)....

In the October 2025 edition of your Monthly Caribbean Drone News, we cover inspiring stories from the Caribbean region: Michael Joseph from Antigua wins the Youth Farmer of the Year award for his innovative use of drones in agriculture, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force receives a new fleet of drones from Taiwan to enhance national security, and a new initiative in Jamaica empo...

In this episode of the Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast, we explore the world of drone technology in conservation efforts across The Bahamas. We welcome Mr. Ellsworth Weir, Director of Parks for The Bahamas National Trust, to discuss how drones have revolutionized their efforts in park management, marine surveys, and enforcement. Learn about the challenges faced, the advancements in drone technolog...

In this episode of the Pilots of the Caribbean podcast, we explore the cutting-edge world of drones with Matt Isenbarger, Chief Revenue Officer at Freefly Systems. Matt shares insights from his extensive experience in the drone industry, discusses Freefly’s commitment to creating reliable, high-performance products and introduces exciting new developments such as the Alta X Gen 2 and forthcoming a...

In this episode of the Pilots of the Caribbean podcast, we are joined by David Lewis, a veteran drone pilot and consultant with over 14 years of experience in the industry. David shares his journey from a humble beginning with RC cars at the age of 13 to becoming a leading figure in the Caribbean drone industry. He discusses the founding of Caribbean Aerial Photography, highlights various drone ap...

In this episode of the Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast, we are joined by Shellie Baxter, CEO and founder of Our Genetic Legacy, a nonprofit organization focused on publishing histories of Afro-indigenous populations beyond enslavement and trauma through workforce development and youth empowerment. Shellie shares her journey from being a stay-at-home mom to founding a nonprofit that uses drones and...