Juan Plaza is CEO of Plaza Aerospace, a Boca Raton based consulting company specializing in crewed and uncrewed aviation, Latin American Business Development and GIS consulting. The company helps organizations reach their goals faster by selecting the right platforms and implementing the best deployment practices. Prior to forming Plaza Aerospace in 2015, Juan spent more than 26 years as a Sales Director for companies such as Autodesk and Trimble Navigation, in Latin America where he developed a network of software and hardware distributors willing and eager to represent new products in their respective countries. Juan has more than 750 hours of experience in photogrammetry navigation and camera operation in various and holds a Commercial, Multi-engine Pilot certificate.
December 30, 2023 a helicopter and a drone collided in midair in the vicinity of the Daytona Beach International Airport. The FAA initially classified the accident as a collision with an object/terrain, but it was only after Juan contacted the FAA, on behalf of the pilot, that the real facts of the collision become known.
In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Juan talks about the mid-air collision and its relevancy for the drone industry and drone operators.
Amol Parikh is co-CEO of Doodle Labs. Doodle Labs designs and produces industrial-grade wireless networking solutions. The company focuses on mesh networking for robotic systems, providing high throughput, long-range Mesh Rider solutions for a variety of government/defense, private wireless and other applications. Doodle Labs has offices in the United States and Singapore, and has been named to Fast Company’s list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2024.
Doodle Labs is a leader in providing industrial-grade wireless networking solutions. Their radios are widely used in military situations, because of their anti-jamming capability providing drone operators with much improved signal strength and continuity. Doodle Labs’ breakthrough development of multi-band technology can benefit several commercial applications, as well.
In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Amol talks about Doodle Labs, its revolutionary mesh communication radios, and how multi-band technology can benefit military and commercial applications.
Today's guests are Oliver Heys and James Bassam of Surf Life Saving. Surf Life Saving is Australia's premier water safety, drowning prevention, and rescue organization. With 129 Surf Life Saving Clubs and over 77,000 members, it's one of the largest not-for-profit volunteer movements in Australia, dedicated to saving lives on the beach. A standout feature within Surf Life Saving is the Australian Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle Service, operating the largest coastal UAV surveillance program in the Southern Hemisphere. The Australian UAV Services uses drones to monitor sharks off the coast of New South Wales, enhancing bather protection while minimizing harm to sharks and other marine life.
Oliver, Surf Life Savings Chief Remote Pilot & Capability Coordinator, oversees regulatory compliance and brings a wealth of experience since joining the organization in 2020. Oliver's dedication to the UAV industry earned him a finalist spot for the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Professional of the Year at the Australian Aviation Safety Awards in 2023.
James is the Australian UAV Service Operations Manager for Safety and Compliance. With a background in crewed aviation and roles as a Commercial Pilot, Flight Instructor, and Head Teacher of Aviation, James leads the operational delivery team. He has spearheaded numerous projects to enhance the capabilities of the Australian UAV Service.
In 2023, Surf Life Saving introduced long-range drones to monitor the coastal waters of New South Wales. This cost-effective, non-invasive technology has been successful in ensuring the safety of swimmers and surfers while minimizing the impact on marine life. The public response has been overwhelmingly positive, with increased confidence in water safety where UAVs are deployed.
In this episode of the Drone Radio Show, Oliver and James discuss Surf Life Savings, the use of drones to monitor sharks and the evolution of Australia’s long range UAV coastal monitoring program.