From basement beginnings in Hungary to drones flying in 25 countries — this week's episode is for anyone who believes that the future of agriculture and infrastructure is aerial, and that Europe has a seat at the table.

Alan sits down with Károly Ludvigh, CEO and co-founder of ABZ Innovation, a Hungarian company that got fed up with poor-performing spray drones and simply decided to build their own. What started as a precision agriculture solution has grown into a full product ecosystem — from heavy-duty spraying drones to building-cleaning machines that can reach 200 feet without scaffolding. Károly breaks down the technology, the business model, and the regulatory battles that shaped ABZ Innovation's journey from Budapest to the global stage.

Key topics covered:

• Controlled Droplet Application (CDA): how ABZ Innovation achieves 90% water savings and 50% chemical reduction compared to traditional spraying
• The C-Series cleaning drone — why a building-cleaning drone is outperforming expectations and replacing scaffolding worldwide
• The M-Series open platform — a customisable drone ecosystem for universities, researchers, and businesses with unique payload needs
• Right to Repair philosophy and why it matters for operators
• Navigating global drone regulations

Guest: Károly Ludvigh — CEO & Co-Founder, ABZ Innovation

Website: ABZinnovation.eu | YouTube: ABZ Innovation | Instagram: @ABZdroneinnovation | LinkedIn: ABZ Innovation | TikTok: @ABZInnovation | Facebook: ABZ Innovation

Get the Drone Pilot Checklist!

The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.

Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.com

Email: pilotsofthecaribbeanpod@gmail.com

All our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod

* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

Turn a toy into a career — James Tobon of Drone Training School USA breaks down exactly how that transformation happens.

James Tobon started with a Christmas gift drone and turned it into one of the most recognised drone training operations in the United States. In this episode, he shares how he built Drone Training School USA from scratch, why professional certification matters more than ever, and how his school is now training government entities and private clients across the Caribbean and Latin America.

Key topics covered:

• Why the Part 107 drone pilot licence is non-negotiable for professional work — and how James earned his before there was a clear path to do so
• How Drone Training School USA tailors training for government agencies, public safety departments, and private operators across multiple platforms
• Why construction — not real estate — is currently the most profitable sector for drone pilots
• The growing impact of advanced air mobility and drone delivery regulations (Part 108) on the everyday commercial pilot
• The personal growth philosophy James credits as the real foundation of his business success

Contact James:

Website: dronetrainingus.com

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Visit pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.com for show notes, links, and more episodes.

Get the Drone Pilot Checklist!

The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.

Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.com

Email: pilotsofthecaribbeanpod@gmail.com

All our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod

* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*

After Hurricane Melissa, one Jamaican organisation stepped up to coordinate 26+ drone pilots and nearly 30 international organisations in what may be the largest drone disaster response effort in history. Here's how they did it — and what they're building next.
Dr. Valrie Grant, founder of Jamaica Flying Labs and Geotech Vision, joins the podcast to unpack the Hurricane Melissa drone response, the upcoming Drones, AI and GIS for Disaster Risk Management Conference in Montego Bay, and her vision for the Caribbean. From training media professionals through UNESCO to advocating for regional drone certification standards, Dr. Grant makes the case that geospatial technology is no longer a nice-to-have for Caribbean disaster management — it's fundamental. This is an essential listen for anyone working in disaster resilience, emergency management, GIS, or Caribbean tech.

Where to learn more:
Drones, AI and GIS for Disaster Risk Management Conference: https://flyinglabs.org/drmconference2026
Dr. Valrie Grant’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valriegrant
Geotech Vision: https://www.geotechvision.com/
Jamaica Flying Labs: https://flyinglabs.org/jamaica
We Robotics: https://werobotics.org/
UN-GGIM: https://ggim.un.org/
Previous Episode: https://youtu.be/FgmLfr1Fki8
Josiah Burkett Episode: https://youtu.be/oiJoBz3QSig
CDEMA (Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency): https://www.cdema.org/
Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT): https://www.hotosm.org/

Mapping the Conversations Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2UQpDE3wa3O7qlqWPqbXBg?si=07a3b1e98d7646bc

Get the Drone Pilot Checklist!

The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.

Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.com

Email: pilotsofthecaribbeanpod@gmail.com

All our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod

* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*