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

farm
The Business Case for AgTech: Better Data Is Key to Managing Risk on the Farm
April 23, 2026

Farming is under more pressure than it’s been in years. Costs are rising, prices are unpredictable, and every decision carries more weight than it used to. What many still think of as a traditional industry is quietly evolving, with more farmers turning to digital tools to manage risk and stay competitive. It’s not about chasing…

Read More
pre-clinical
From Classroom to Clinic: Pre-Clinical Talent Steps Into Healthcare’s Hard-to-Fill Roles
April 23, 2026

Healthcare systems are facing a workforce crisis that’s no longer temporary—it’s structural. Even before COVID-19, staffing shortages across nursing, technical, and administrative roles were already straining capacity; today, those gaps are wider, costlier, and directly impacting patient access. With labor shortages persisting and burnout rising, health systems are being forced to rethink not just…

Read More
learning
If Higher Ed Wants Experiential Learning at Scale, It Needs a Broader Playbook
April 21, 2026

The ground is shifting under higher education. AI is changing how people learn almost overnight—and at the same time, more than half of graduates are underemployed after finishing their degrees. That’s forcing a more uncomfortable question into the open: what is a college credential really worth today? As employers and governments shift their focus…

Read More
skilled trades mentorship
Why the Modern Data Center Is Forcing Communities and Policymakers to Rethink Infrastructure
April 21, 2026

Data centers have moved from largely invisible digital infrastructure to a highly visible source of public debate as artificial intelligence accelerates demand for power, fiber, and compute capacity. The modern data center is now being built closer to population centers to support low-latency services, bringing critical infrastructure into direct contact with residential communities for…

Read More