EDL 002: Elevating Drone Life: Interview with Kevin Lederer and words of wisdom from pursuing a career in RC and UAS industry

Welcome to Elevating Drone Life, the podcast for drone professionals !! We are super excited to announce the launch of Elevating Drone Life, our new podcast show hosted by PJ Kirkpatrick, Director of Operations, Drone U. Elevating Drone Life is a podcast for drone professionals by drone professionals. It is a podcast that takes you on a journey through the exciting and ever-evolving world of drone technology. Each week, we'll be speaking with professionals from all walks of the drone industry, Drone U Elite Instructors and members to learn about their experiences, insights, and tips for success. We'll explore the latest trends in drone technology, dive into real-world applications, and uncover the unique challenges and opportunities facing today's drone pilots. On our show today, we talk to Kevin Lederer, Drone U Elite pilot, long time RC and UAS pilot, Founder/Owner of SkyKing Images and learn about his career spanning 4 decades in the RC and UAS industry. Kevin brings in years of experience and hardwork and is one of Drone U's elite instructor having not just trained multiple pilots over the years but also having done some of the most unique and innovative drone contracts the industry has seen. Kevin talks about his life in RC and UAS drones, shares his experience with changing regulations, how he landed the Amazon contracts, his wisdom on navigating contracts, training experience and learning. Kevin also shares the best practices gained from 4 decades of flying and provides insightful tips on how pilots can achieve success. Tune in to this show as we explore the fascinating world of drone technology and discover the amazing insights from Kevin in the drone industry. Get Your Biggest and Most Common Drone Certificate Questions Answered by Downloading this FREE Part 107 PDF Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps: [01:03] Learn how Kevin got in drones and drone services [03:58] Kevin talks of his experience with 333 and 107 and the hours spent in practicing flight [06:34] Learn about Kevin's experience in working on contracts for Amazon facilities and explaining to the customer on drone deliverables [08:58] How does Kevin navigate through contractors and sub contracts and the ways drone pilots can protect themselves [15:14] What are some of the best practices than Kevin recommends for drone pilots [18:45] How has public safety operations changed with the introduction of drones in their programs [25:02] Kevin talks about the importance of having flying time to improve quality of delivery [27:18] Kevin shares his experience with pricing, scams and holding your value while pricing individuals