The Vertical Space
The Vertical Space
Jim Barry, Peter Shannon & Luka Tomljenovic
#109 Admiral Phil Kenul: What flying into hurricanes taught him about drone regulation
52 minutes Posted Apr 20, 2026 at 6:00 pm.
Part 108 Standards Unlock BVLOS
When Will Part 108 Drop
NOAA Roots And Standards Mindset
Flying Into Hurricanes
Why Hurricane Recon Matters
The SHOUT Program
Future Hurricane Sensing Drones
Why NOAA Stayed Manned
Unmanned Weather Data Future
uAvionix sponsor segment
Inside ASTM F38 Committee
Global Standards Adoption
Europe vs US Momentum
Missing Compliance Pieces
Interop and Harmonization
Who Will Be Most Successful
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Show notes
Admiral Phil Kenul spent decades flying NOAA aircraft into some of the most dangerous weather on earth, including multiple seasons as a P-3 Orion hurricane hunter, before transitioning into the world of UAS standards, where he now serves as Vice Chair of ASTM Committee F38. That path gives him a perspective on unmanned aviation that most people in the industry don't have. He's been the guy in the cockpit, the program manager trying to replace the cockpit with a Global Hawk, and now the person...