Welcome to our ongoing blog series inspired by episodes of The Unmanned Podcast—conversations that explore the evolution of drone operations, safety, training, and workforce development. In each post, we dive deeper into the themes and takeaways from our guests to offer industry insight and practical value for drone professionals, educators, and enthusiasts alike.
Matt Hernandez: Welcome, everyone, to the very first episode of The Unmanned Podcast, presented by the Unmanned Safety Institute. I'm your host, Matt Hernandez, and I couldn’t be more excited to kick things off with none other than USI President and Co-founder, Josh Olds. Josh, welcome.
Josh Olds: Hey Matt, thanks. I'm really excited to be here and to finally get this podcast off the ground. It's something we’ve been talking about for a long time.
Matt: So let’s start there. Why a podcast—and why now?
Josh: We've been watching the space evolve for over a decade, and honestly, there's just so much noise. We see a lot of hype and marketing. What's missing is deep, meaningful dialogue about what actually matters: trust, standards, and readiness. There's a real need for clarity in this space.
Matt: So you’re saying the drone industry has a communication problem?
Josh: Exactly. And it’s not just noise—it’s misalignment. People are chasing the latest gear or app, but they’re missing the foundational question: Why do you fly drones in the first place? It’s either to make money, save money, or reduce hazard hours. That’s it. That’s the value proposition. And once you understand that, everything else—training, certification, safety—starts to make sense.
Trust: The Currency of Aviation
Matt: You mentioned earlier that trust is the cornerstone of all this.
Josh: Absolutely. In aviation—manned or unmanned—trust is the currency. If the public doesn’t trust a drone flying overhead, the industry suffers. If your client doesn’t trust your safety process, you lose business. If your team doesn’t trust your readiness, your operation is a liability.
Matt: So where does that trust come from?
Josh: Standards. And transparency. When you're operating in regulated airspace, the margin for error is zero. Trust is built by showing your process, aligning to consensus standards, and having verifiable training outcomes.
Josh: And that’s what separates aviation from other industries that adopt tech quickly. You’re dealing with lives—even when unmanned. Whether you’re flying a sensor over a crowd or inspecting powerlines, trust determines whether your operation is scalable and sustainable.
Building Standards Into the System
Matt: And that’s where USI comes in?
Josh: That’s right. We’ve been at this since 2014, helping to define and deliver the standards. We’ve trained more than 20,000 operators and contributed to ASTM standards like F3266 for remote pilot training, F3548 for flight ops, and F3003 for safety systems. We're not just teaching these concepts—we’re building the framework they operate in.
Josh: It's about shifting the narrative from "drone training" to aviation preparation. Whether you’re a school district or a private operator, you need a training model that aligns with industry expectations.
Matt: What’s the difference between passing a test and being truly ready to fly?
Josh: Huge difference. Anyone can cram for Part 107 and pass. But can they fly safely? Repeatedly? In different environments? Under pressure? That’s where readiness comes in. That’s the goal.
The Name Behind the Mic
Matt: Let’s shift gears. Why call it The Unmanned Podcast?
Josh: [Laughs] It’s a little ironic, right? We’re talking about unmanned systems, but this podcast is really about the people behind them—the pilots, educators, safety officers, policymakers. This space might be unmanned, but it's anything but impersonal.
Looking Ahead: BVLOS and Beyond
Matt: So where is all of this heading? What’s next for drone operations?
Josh: The next evolution is clear: Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS), greater autonomy, AI-integrated flight planning. But the foundation has to be solid. You can’t skip steps. In aviation, you crawl, walk, run. Drones are no different.
Josh: You’ll hear terms like “scaling operations” or “automating workflows”—and those are valid goals. But if the human element isn’t ready, those technologies become liabilities. Readiness isn’t just about systems, it’s about people.
Matt: Is there a mindset shift you want to see across the industry?
Josh: Yes—less focus on gadgets and more on competency. This is a safety profession, not a hobbyist community. The people who succeed in this space are the ones who take readiness seriously.
For the Next Generation of Pilots
Matt: Let’s wrap with this. What’s your message to someone just starting out?
Josh: Don’t rush. Learn the airspace. Understand why the rules exist. Get certified—but also get competent. This is a career, and careers are built on fundamentals. Find a mentor. Find a standard. Stick to it.
Josh: And to educators—I’d say don’t sell your students short. Give them the full picture of what this industry demands. Treat this like the professional pathway it truly is.
Matt: That’s excellent advice. Josh, this has been a fantastic start to the series. Thanks for kicking things off with so much insight.
Josh: Thanks, Matt. I’m looking forward to where this podcast—and this industry—goes next.
Stay Tuned
Catch Episode 1 of The Unmanned Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts and follow USI for future conversations with the voices shaping the future of unmanned aviation. This is just the beginning—one standard, one pilot, one conversation at a time.
