EDL 011: From Laid Off to 6-Figure Drone Filmmaker: Jason Flakes’ FAA-Approved Flight Plan

Want to grow your drone business, book high-paying contracts, and get FAA-authorized for restricted airspace? This episode reveals how Jason Flakes did it—step by step. In this episode of Elevating Drone Life, Rob talks with Jason Flakes, the award-winning founder of Visual 14, about how he turned a career setback into a thriving commercial drone business. You will discover how he uses cinematic storytelling, strategic proposals, and FAA-compliant flight operations to build his six figure drone business. From filming Amazon Prime documentaries to winning a 3-year aerial contract over a 16-mile metro line, Jason shares hard-won insights on: Pricing drone services with confidence Getting FAA authorization in restricted zones Submitting winning RFPs (and how to ask for a debrief) Capturing footage that looks like it came from a Hollywood set Turning raw content into recurring revenue Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale, this episode is a masterclass in real-world drone success. Want to fly like a pro and get paid what you're worth? Discover 40+ industry-leading courses right from FAA Part 107 prep to advanced mapping, modelling and inspections. Go here ? https://www.thedroneu.com Timestamps: [00:00] Learn about our guest, Jason Flakes and his background [06:00] Laid off ? Launched business [13:00] From architecture to drone media [19:00] Discovering the power of drone storytelling [28:00] Behind the 3-year metro rail aerial contract [34:00] FAA drone rules explained (and how to build trust) [42:00] How to price drone jobs the smart way [48:00] Licensing, deliverables, and protecting your work [52:00] Gear talk: Mavic 3 Pro vs Inspire 2 + DJI ban [57:00] Upcoming documentaries and mindful filmmaking Resources & Links - Jason’s Website – https://visual14.com - Instagram – https://instagram.com/jasonflakes - Mocktail Monday – Buy the Book - TED Talk – Putting Hustle Culture to Rest ? Watch - The Hustle Equation – Buy on Amazon (replace with live link) Want free tools to jumpstart your drone career? Download our Drone Pilot Starter Kit Learn to Master the Skies and Build Your Confidence as a Drone Pilot. The Drone Starter Kit is a collection of 3 amazing courses worth $97 - all for free. https://learn.thedroneu.com/bundles/drone-pilot-starter-kit Stay Connected Like this episode if it helped Subscribe & turn on notifications for weekly pro tips Share this video with a friend who's trying to break into the drone industry #DroneBusiness #DroneFilmmaking #FAA107 #DronePilotLife #DroneContracts #StorytellingWithDrones