Flying a drone near an airport? The rules might surprise you. 🛸

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson break down Part 107 and what every pilot, student, and CFI needs to know about sharing the airspace with drones. From personal drone stories to real FAA enforcement cases, the hosts cover:

• The difference between recreational (TRUST test) and commercial (Part 107) drone rules
• Registration, weight limits, and how LAANC authorizations actually work
• Real federal cases where drone pilots faced fines and criminal charges
• The FBI's drone crackdown at the 2026 World Cup and what it means for future regulation

🚀 Whether you're a student pilot, private pilot, CFI, or drone operator, this episode is packed with practical guidance on staying legal and safe in shared airspace.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.

🌐 Protect your aircraft and your flying with Skywatch Aviation Insurance. Get a quote at skywatch.ai, and check out our exclusive partner offer at skywatch.ai/partners/mentors

Apply for the Stratus Financial Fly to Success Scholarship: stratus.finance/scholarship-2026/Learn more about the Ascend Flight Training Summit: ascendflighttrainingsummit.com

🌍 Failed a checkride? You're not alone, and it's not the end of your aviation journey. ✈️

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson break down what a checkride failure or discontinuance actually means for student pilots, plus dig into the differences between Part 61 and Part 141 flight schools, why general aviation airports keep shutting down, and why fewer people are flying just for fun these days. The hosts cover:

• What happens after a failed checkride or discontinuance, and why it's more common than you think
• Part 61 vs Part 141: the real differences in structure, stage checks, and examining authority
• Why airports like Santa Monica, Rialto, and Huntington Beach have shut down, and what it means for GA's future
• The declining number of people learning to fly purely for fun, and how the cost compares to other hobbies

🚀 Whether you're preparing for your own checkride, weighing Part 61 vs Part 141 training, or just care about the future of general aviation airports, this episode has practical insight and real talk for student pilots and GA enthusiasts alike.

New episodes drop every Friday, join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.

🌐 Protect your aircraft and your flying with Skywatch Aviation Insurance. Get a quote at skywatch.ai, and check out our exclusive partner offer at skywatch.ai/partners/mentors

Apply for the Stratus Financial Fly to Success Scholarship: stratus.finance/scholarship-2026/Learn more about the Ascend Flight Training Summit: ascendflighttrainingsummit.com

A Chinese-owned aircraft maker just landed on the Pentagon's radar, and Cirrus pilots want to know what it means for them.

In this episode of the Aviation Mentors Podcast, Brandon and Carson break down the news that Cirrus's parent company, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), has been added to the Pentagon's list of Chinese military-linked companies operating in the US. The hosts walk through what the designation actually means, who else got named alongside Cirrus, and why this story is surfacing now. They cover:

• What the Pentagon's blacklist designation is and why it's not the same as a flight ban
• Why Cirrus parent company AVIC was added, and how it ties back to a 2011 ownership deal
• What it means for the Department of Defense's procurement contracts starting June 30th
• Continental Aerospace Technology and Align Aerospace, the two other aviation suppliers named in the same update
• Why this surfaced now, including Cirrus's 2024 Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing and shifting US policy on foreign-owned companies

🚀 Whether you fly a Cirrus, train in one, or just want to understand how geopolitics can intersect with general aviation, this episode breaks down what pilots actually need to know, and what they don't need to worry about.

🌎 New episodes drop every Friday—join us, learn, and stay inspired in aviation.