Drone World Expo – Exclusive Board Member Interviews – Michael Drobac | Small UAV Coalition

Question: You have a background in working with technology-related organizations—Netflix and the Online Publishers Association – what triggered your interest in UAVs ?

Answer: I’ve worked with Digital Content Next, Expedia and Barry Diller’s company IAC and opened the office in DC for Netflix.  My fascination with drones started years ago when I saw how companies transitioning how they deliver content and services. I saw how precise drones were being used overseas and thought we should have rules in place to guarantee continued consumer use as well as commercial use, which led me to a conversation with Amazon Prime Air, Parrot, 3D Robotics and DJI.  From that point I have worked with leaders in the industry including teams from the FAA, FTC, the White House, and Congress.

Question: What is the rationale behind the creation of the Coalition ?

Answer: The companies in this industry, consumer and commercial or both, were well aware that the U.S. government, states and localities and foreign governments were struggling with how to address this transformative technology.  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is posed to miss its federally mandated date of establishing a commercial UAS rule by September 2015 – more importantly, the FAA continues to struggle with how to promulgate a Micro-UAS rule for low-risk, highly efficient UAVs that will revolutionize how consumers receive content, services and a reduction of stress on critical infrastructure.  I connected with Colin Quinn from 3D Robotics and others and we believed we would be stronger working together to promote the bigger vision, and we all agreed, which led to the UAV Coalition, which now has 30 members.  We are a nonprofit that is able to advocate and we can engage at a state, federal and international level.

Question: What sort of initiatives do you undertake ?

Answer: There are too many too list.  One example is that I just returned from a meeting with Mina Chang, a tremendous thought leader who is the CEO of Linking the World (LTW), which delivers humanitarian aid that builds communities marked by self-reliance, sustainable infrastructures and uses drones through an initiative LTW launched called Help and Locate Operations (HALO).   We are also working with the Department of Commerce on consumer privacy; as well as with Homeland Security on counter measure to insure that safety in a paramount operation at scale.  We are engaged in a PR effort to socialize the benefits of small and large drones for consumers.  We are working with state legislatures who have an unsophisticated view of the technology.  Those fighting against drone technology will wonder what they were doing in 10 years – this will evolve and using drones will help us get things done faster, better and more cheaply.  Technology always wins – those who stand in front of it – will not win – they will harm future business in this country while companies flock to overseas markets that believe in technology and know it can be implemented safely and securely. 

Question: What do you see as being the main areas of growth for commercial applications of UAVs ?

Answer: We are falling behind other nations in commercial and civil use.  It’s quite simple; let’s get this right. We need a Micro UAS rule immediately.  Recreational users are becoming so skilled to operate – the fact that we are not using the technology to do disaster management, inspections, search and rescue, etc. The fact that we don’t have this rule to use the drones that are already in use today is shocking.  My first goal is to ensure consumers drones are not regulated and that our coalition promptly obtains rules commercial use in the U.S. and worldwide.  Companies understand that their number one priority is consumer safety and respect for consumer privacy and they are investing in technology and education programs to ensure operators’ have the same priorities.  Companies are going to great lengths to protect consumers – even recreational devices.  We support the Know Before you Fly Campaign which the Small UAV Coalition and others kicked off at a free concert with the band OK Go in Washington D.C.  We also had 1.2 million unique hits on our public policy website www.smalluavcoalition.org which clearly demonstrates the power of the technology. The public wants to see this happen and we will be the stewards of that.

Question: Some people complain that the FAA is dragging its feet – others point out that they have a massive responsibility for air safety and that can’t be rushed. How do you see the FAA’s approach…?

Answer: I have the utmost respect for the FAA and protecting the airspace and I’d love to be a champion for the FAA and DOT but they have problems.   Class G air space 400-500 feet AGL has never been a focus of the FAA as commercial airlines do not fly at 400 – 500 feet except for take-off.  Until Brendan Schulman, now of DJI, appropriately challenged the FAA’s enforcement action against Raphael Pirker, and won, the FAA was delaying and releasing information that was sure to harm the industry.  The NTSB reversed the Pirker decision, giving the FAA a reprieve, but the NTSB couldn’t spare the FAA the embarrassment of not coming up with a rule on time and it couldn’t spare the FAA the embarrassment of an NPRM that will prohibit so much growth and opportunity.   Safety always comes first, always, but is the FAA telling consumers that other countries don’t care about their citizens as much as we do.  Does Canada care less – they have extremely thoughtful and expedited procedures for drone use.  I know our message cannot be that we believe other countries are proceeding carelessly.  It is time for action and clear guidelines that allow for enhanced consumer, commercial and civil use of drones with reasonable regulations that have safety at their core.

Question: There’s been an explosion of interest in exhibitions and conferences about UAVs in the USA this year.  Why did you choose to put your weight behind Drone World Expo?

Answer: Because it has some of the foremost leaders and thinkers in the industry. I believe I am working with experts – there are some conferences that are merely about sales (a critical part of success) but I saw clearly that Drone World Expo not only wanted to connect people for good business but to assist in helping with a vision for the future.   We have passion to create a strong commercial agenda in the future.

[UAS Vision is an Official Media Partner for Drone World Expo – Ed.]