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

Revpar Media
The Origin of Revpar Media: Host Calvin Tilokee’s Journey from Revenue Management to Performance Storytelling
February 11, 2026

Something has shifted in hotel marketing, and you can feel it. In a landscape where every property can publish polished visuals, aesthetics alone are no longer enough to stand out—or to convert attention into bookings. Research increasingly shows that social media now plays a meaningful role in how travelers choose destinations and plan trips,…

Read More
spiral growth
Spiral Growth: The Career Strategy That Builds Real Leaders
February 11, 2026

Leadership pipelines are under pressure. Companies are moving faster, roles are becoming more cross-functional, and high-potential talent is expected to deliver beyond narrow job descriptions earlier in their careers. At the same time, the World Economic Forum estimates that 39% of workers’ core skills will need to evolve by 2030 to keep pace with…

Read More
ethical AI
In the Race to Build Smarter AI, Technology Leaders Shouldn’t Forget That Innovation Needs Oversight
February 11, 2026

When a résumé is filtered out, a loan is denied, or a piece of content never reaches its audience, artificial intelligence may be the unseen hand behind the outcome. As these systems spread across the tools and institutions that shape daily life, the assumptions and priorities of their designers are carried forward into decisions…

Read More
Resource Officers
Beyond Enforcement: The Evolving Role of School Resource Officers
February 10, 2026

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies. In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with Dr. Penny Schultz, Assistant Director of School Safety and Security at Chesapeake Public Schools, to unpack the often-misunderstood role of School Resource Officers (SROs). The conversation highlights how effective SROs function not…

Read More