Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast

Hosted by Alan Gabriel

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Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

The Pilots of the Caribbean podcast is a weekly show about drones and the people that use them for fun, research or business in the Caribbean. In each episode, we'll cover a wide range of topics, including: How to use drones for business, fun, and research. New business opportunities in the drone industry. Regulatory changes affecting drone pilots. Exciting ways to take your interest in drones to the next level. We'll also feature interviews with drone pilots from around the Caribbean, who will share their stories and insights on how they're using drones to make a difference, make money, or just have fun. Whether you're a drone pilot, a business owner, or just someone who's interested in learning more about drones, Pilots of the Caribbean is the perfect podcast for you. So tune in every week for your dose of drone news, interviews, and insights. Subscribe today and never miss an episode!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 15, 2026Episode 7641 min

DroneGuyTT on Building an FPV Business in Trinidad & Tobago

Levi Hinds, better known across Trinidad and Tobago as DroneGuyTT, didn't set out to become one of the the Caribbean's most recognized FPV drone pilot. He wanted to be a commercial pilot, couldn't afford it, and found FPV instead, crashing his first drone before it even cleared the yard. A decade later he's flown Shal Marshall music videos, Tobago's Hill Climb, and enough Carnival trucks to lose count.In this episode, Levi and Alan get into the real cost of building an FPV business in Trinidad: the $8,000-to-$15,000 TT buy-in, the client conversation that taught Levi to finally charge his worth, and the Carnival photo that went viral and got blamed on the wrong pilot.Tune in to discover what it takes to turn FPV from a hobby into a career, and why Levi says "try to be you" might be the best advice he can give.---CONNECT WITH LEVI HINDS (DRONEGUYTT)YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DroneGuyTTFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DroneGuyTTInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/droneguytt/The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.comEmail: pilotsofthecaribbeanpod@gmail.comAll our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

August 6, 2026Episode 7553 min

Building the Caribbean Drone Hub with Prof. David Yawson

As Director of CERMES at UWI Cave Hill, he's spent years watching Caribbean drone policy lag behind Caribbean drone practice, and he's doing something about it. In this conversation, Alan Gabriel talks with Professor Yawson about how CERMES built one of the region's earliest drone programs around monitoring sargassum strandings, why "banned" is the wrong word for Barbados' cautious permitting process, and how the Caribbean Drone Hub just rolled out the region's first tiered drone certification. They also dig into what came out of the inaugural Caribbean Drone Symposium, from repair-center gaps to the push for certifications that travel across borders. Tune in to discover how one small university unit is trying to build the regulatory backbone the Caribbean drone industry has been missing.---CONNECT WITH PROFESSOR DAVID YAWSONLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-yawson-97aa252b/Caribbean Drone Hub: https://www.caridronehub.orgCERMES: https://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/cermesThe Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.comEmail: pilotsofthecaribbeanpod@gmail.comAll our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

August 1, 2026Episode 748 min

July 2026 Caribbean Drone News: Jamaica, DJI, and the FCC

Caribbean Drone News PageThis month on Caribbean Drone News, Jamaica picks up hardware on two completely different fronts. Prime Minister Andrew Holness accepted the 2026 Esri President's Award for the National Drone Response that mapped Hurricane Melissa in real time, while Jamaica's Drone Soccer team came home from South Korea with a fifth place finish and a funding model worth studying. DJI also quietly flew its first cargo eVTOL near the summit of Mount Everest, hitting the highest documented altitude for a cargo drone in its class. And the FCC closed out July by expanding its covered list to foreign made robots and grid equipment, a move AUVSI welcomed with one major caveat. Alan Gabriel breaks down what each story means for operators and manufacturers watching the region. Tune in to catch up on the month in Caribbean and global drone news.The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.comEmail: pilotsofthecaribbeanpod@gmail.comAll our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

June 30, 2026Episode 7312 min

June 2026: Caribbean Drone News

Code: CARIBBEAN100Discount: $100 off an Exhibit Hall Only Pass or a Full Conference PassDirect registration link (code pre-applied): https://www.xpressreg.net/register/UAVA0926/landing.php?sc=CARIBBEAN100Devon McKellop episode Brian Smith episodes - Episode 1 | Episode 2 Ram Fish / 19Labs episodeThe Caribbean drone industry had a big June. In this month's Caribbean Drone News, Alan Gabriel covers four stories from Jamaica and Guyana that are quietly reshaping what's possible for UAS operators in the region.Jamaica's national drone soccer team returned from California undefeated, defeating teams from the US, Canada, Mexico, and Kazakhstan. Jamaican competitor Omar Cockett is heading to the World Skills Competition — one of the largest vocational skills events on the planet — to compete in the unmanned aerial systems category. In Guyana, Dragonfly Drones formally launched an international joint venture with Canadian firm Automox Offshore. The Ministry of Health completed drone-supported medical deliveries to riverine communities along the Mahicony River as part of a broader logistics rollout.Tune in to get the full breakdown, the context behind each story, and why these developments matter for the wider Caribbean drone space.The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.comEmail: pilotsofthecaribbeanpod@gmail.comAll our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

June 18, 2026Episode 7244 min

What the Drone Industry Is Actually Talking About in 2026 | Matt Collins

COMMERCIAL UAV EXPO 2026 — EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTUse 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=CARIBBEAN100Matt 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 editorial at Commercial UAV News. In this episode, he gives an unfiltered read on where the industry stands in 2026.We get into the real gap between AI marketing and actual field use, why the FCC Covered List's biggest threat is the hobbyist-to-professional pipeline, what the Part 108 NPRM got wrong, and why Caribbean drone operators are still missing from global industry data — and what to do about it.Matt also walks through what's new at Commercial UAV Expo 2026 (September 1-3, Las Vegas): roundtable sessions, the Level Up Lounge, a new focus on agriculture, and a state of the industry keynote with Pilot Institute's Greg Hughes.Tune in to discover how to get the Caribbean drone community into the global conversation — straight from someone who writes and edits that conversation daily.---CONNECT WITH MATT COLLINSLinkedIn: Search "Matt Collins Commercial UAV" on LinkedInWebsite / Event: https://www.expouav.comNews: https://commercialuavnews.comContact: info@commercialuavnews.com---The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.comEmail: pilotsofthecaribbeanpod@gmail.comAll our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

June 4, 2026Episode 711 hr 17 min

Coming Home With a Vision: The Story of GuyDrones with Ershad Mahamed

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.In this episode, Ershad breaks down what it actually took to get Guy Drones certified by the GCAA, the EPA, and a major oil major — all at once — and why he believes drone pilots deserve the same professional recognition as manned aircraft pilots. He also shares the company's expansion into underwater ROVs, the Unitree robot dog, and an incoming drone delivery service built around Guyana's unique geography.Tune in to discover what building a world-class drone operation in the Caribbean really looks like — from rice fields to oil rigs.The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.comEmail: pilotsofthecaribbeanpod@gmail.comAll our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

May 21, 2026Episode 701 hr 9 min

How Speedbird Aero Is Scaling Drone Delivery Across 14 Nations

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 permanent UK drone service and the world's longest-running commercial food drone delivery program. We get into the full DLV aircraft lineup, the wet-lease business model, ship-to-shore cargo delivery in Singapore and Brazil, and what Part 108 could mean for drone delivery companies finally entering the US at scale. For any operator thinking about island logistics, BVLOS operations, or what commercial drone delivery actually looks like in practice — this one is essential listening. Tune in to discover how the most advanced drone delivery network in Latin America was built in a country with the world's highest interest rates.The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.comEmail: pilotsofthecaribbeanpod@gmail.comAll our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

May 7, 2026Episode 6934 min

Running the World's Largest Energy Drone & Robotics Network | Sean Guerre, EDRC

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 20,000 professionals and 200+ energy and utility companies. Sean unpacks what's happening right now in autonomous operations, the regulatory shifts that will affect every drone operator, and why the next decade looks very different from the last.Key topics covered:How the EDRC grew from a small meetup to the world's premier industrial drone and robotics networkThe current state of autonomous operations in oil, gas, and energy — including Level 4 automation in the field todayWhat Caribbean professionals can expect at the Energy Drone & Robotics Summit (June 22–24, Houston)Key regulatory developments — NDAA/FCC supply chain rules and FAA Part 108 — and what they mean for operatorsHow humanoids, drone-in-a-box systems, and physical AI are changing energy operations right nowGuest: Sean Guerre, Executive Director, Energy Drone and Robotics Coalition EDRC Website: edrcoalition.comThe Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.comEmail: pilotsofthecaribbeanpod@gmail.comAll our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

April 23, 2026Episode 6851 min

90% Less Water, 50% Less Chemicals: The Science Behind ABZ Innovation's Spray Drones

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 their own. What started as a precision agriculture solution has grown into a full product ecosystem — from heavy-duty spraying drones to building-cleaning machines that can reach 200 feet without scaffolding. Károly breaks down the technology, the business model, and the regulatory battles that shaped ABZ Innovation's journey from Budapest to the global stage.Key topics covered:Controlled Droplet Application (CDA): how ABZ Innovation achieves 90% water savings and 50% chemical reduction compared to traditional sprayingThe C-Series cleaning drone — why a building-cleaning drone is outperforming expectations and replacing scaffolding worldwideThe M-Series open platform — a customisable drone ecosystem for universities, researchers, and businesses with unique payload needsRight to Repair philosophy and why it matters for operators Navigating global drone regulations Guest: Károly Ludvigh — CEO & Co-Founder, ABZ InnovationWebsite: ABZinnovation.eu | YouTube: ABZ Innovation | Instagram: @ABZdroneinnovation | LinkedIn: ABZ Innovation | TikTok: @ABZInnovation | Facebook: ABZ InnovationThe Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.comEmail: pilotsofthecaribbeanpod@gmail.comAll our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

April 16, 2026Episode 6749 min

Building a Drone Business with James Tobon of Drone Training School USA

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, and how his school is now training government entities and private clients across the Caribbean and Latin America.Key topics covered:Why the Part 107 drone pilot licence is non-negotiable for professional work — and how James earned his before there was a clear path to do soHow Drone Training School USA tailors training for government agencies, public safety departments, and private operators across multiple platformsWhy construction — not real estate — is currently the most profitable sector for drone pilotsThe growing impact of advanced air mobility and drone delivery regulations (Part 108) on the everyday commercial pilotThe personal growth philosophy James credits as the real foundation of his business successContact James: Website: dronetrainingus.comInstagramYouTubeFacebookLinkedInVisit pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.com for show notes, links, and more episodes. The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.comEmail: pilotsofthecaribbeanpod@gmail.comAll our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*