Piloting the UAS World with the FAA: Drones In America

 

Welcome to this week’s episode of “Drones in America,” a MarketScale podcast hosted by Grant Guillot.

On “Drones in America,” Guillot and industry leaders, influencers and experts explore the rapidly growing commercial drone industry in the U.S., guiding you through the complex web of technology, policy and more.

This week, Grant speaks with the Executive Director of the Federal Aviation Administration, Jay Merkle, to get his insight regarding what drone users can expect in regards to Operations Over People, Remote ID, and the utilization of drones in public safety.

Deliveries being performed by unmanned vehicles is a goal for companies as a way to boost the efficiency and reduce the cost of last-mile delivery, but this dream has hit several regulatory road blocks. However, this year, we have seen several companies make serious headway in making this a reality. The key to lasting success will be the involvement of the local community.

Merkle discussed how one company in North Carolina is ingeniously using multiple visual observers to extend their “line of sight” to a 25-mile long route. Novant Health is delivering medical supplies between their facilities using drones with the help of Zipline’s technologies. They have developed this advanced system of visual observers to get around the need for a part 135 clearance, but also to ensure safety throughout the entire route and limit the risk that comes with beyond line of sight flying.

The public perception of drones is a prominent concern among the drone industry and is seen as one of the larger threats to the timeline of rolling out more sophisticated UAV operations throughout the country. Merkle weighed in on how he is working to change the negative narrative and how drones can be a tool for positive impact in the community.

The FAA UAS Symposium this year is going to be a Remotely Piloted Edition (virtual conference) titled “Drones: Here for Good.” The title is a callout not only to UAVs being an industry that will be here permanently, but also to how the utilization of drones can make notoriously dangerous tasks safer.

Don’t Miss Our Drones In America Panel!

Join us Thursday June 25th at 11am ET/10am CT for a webinar titled, “Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs in the Commercial Drone Industry” moderated by “Drones in America” host Grant Guillot.

Catch up on previous episodes of Drones In America!

Join host Grant Guillot of the law firm, Adams and Reese for Drones in America with new episodes available where ever podcasts are found.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

appreciation
When Recognition Feels Real, Culture Thrives: The Quiet Power of Genuine Appreciation at Work
October 27, 2025

Employee appreciation is getting a much-needed rethink. Between hybrid teams, retention pressures, and a rising demand for authenticity at work, HR leaders are being asked to prove that recognition isn’t just a line item. According to Gallup, employees who feel they receive the right level of recognition are four times more likely to be…

Read More
benefits costs
External HR Support Can Help Small and Midsize Businesses Manage Rising Benefits Costs and Compliance Complexity
October 27, 2025

Healthcare costs are surging, and compliance landscapes are growing more complex across state lines. HR professionals are forced to rethink how they support both their people and their business strategy. Rising benefits costs, multi-state compliance, and talent retention pressures have converged to make HR one of the most critical and complex functions for small…

Read More
Leadership
Fighter Jets, Fintech, and the Frontier of AI: Mastering the Art of Adaptable Leadership with Gregory Gorman
October 27, 2025

In an era when artificial intelligence is reshaping entire industries and the pace of software innovation feels almost unmanageable, the question of leadership—what it looks like, how it adapts, and who embodies it—has never been more vital. The technology sector is confronting one of the fastest paradigm shifts in decades, and with that change comes…

Read More
retention
Employee Loyalty Starts with Culture: What the H. E. Butt Foundation Gets Right About Retention
October 27, 2025

Employee expectations have changed fast. The promise of remote work, the rise of burnout, and a sharper focus on well-being have all rewritten what people look for in a job. For HR leaders, that shift has made retention less about perks and more about purpose — about building workplaces that people actually want to stay…

Read More