Meet your instructor
Captain
Robert Ashby
Boeing 777 Captain for a major U.S. airline. FAA-certified Remote Pilot. Professional photographer. DronePro representative with the FAA Safety Team. One instructor, four perspectives — and a single commitment to doing it right.
B777
Captain
Part 107
Remote Pilot
FAAST
DronePro
CURRENTLY FLYING
Boeing 777 · Part 107 sUAS
The story
From the flight deck to the field.
“Safety isn't the opposite of creativity. It's what gives creativity room to fly.”
My career has been spent in the cockpit. Flying the Boeing 777 as a Captain for a major U.S. airline means living inside a culture of preparation, procedure and accountability — where every flight starts with a briefing and ends with an honest debrief.
Photography has always been the other half of my life in the air. As a professional photographer, I learned that the same sky I navigate for a living is also the most extraordinary studio in the world. Drones made it possible to bring those two passions together.
As an FAA-certified Remote Pilot, I saw how many new drone pilots were never taught the fundamentals that manned aviation takes for granted: airspace awareness, weather judgment, risk management and checklist discipline. That gap is why Drone Mastery exists.
Today I also serve as a DronePro representative with the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam), supporting safety education for the drone community. Whether you want to pass the Part 107 exam, capture breathtaking images or launch a professional drone program, my goal is the same: to help you fly safely, confidently and creatively.
Credentials
Four disciplines of expertise. One instructor.
Major U.S. airline
Boeing 777 Captain
Commands one of the world's most advanced wide-body airliners. Brings airline-grade standard operating procedures, crew resource management and threat-and-error management to every lesson.
Certified sUAS operator
FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot
Holds the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate required for commercial drone operations — and teaches the regulations, airspace and operational knowledge behind it.
Commercial photo & video
Professional Photographer
A working professional who understands light, composition and storytelling — and the client expectations that come with paid work.
FAA Safety Team representative
FAASTeam DronePro
Supports the FAA Safety Team's outreach to the drone community, helping pilots of every level build a culture of safety.
Teaching philosophy
Brief. Fly. Debrief.
The rhythm of every professional flight is the rhythm of every Drone Mastery lesson.
STEP 01
Brief
Every session starts with a plan: objectives, airspace, weather, risks and the go/no-go criteria — exactly like an airline pre-flight briefing.
STEP 02
Fly
Hands-on practice with real-time coaching. Skills are built in deliberate progressions, so complex maneuvers feel natural rather than stressful.
STEP 03
Debrief
An honest review of what went well and what to improve, with clear next steps. This is how professionals keep getting better.
Two views from above
Pilot's discipline. Photographer's eye.
Flying an airliner trains you to see the big picture — terrain, weather, traffic and time. Photography trains you to see the details — light, line and moment. Great drone work needs both, and that combination is at the heart of every program.
FAAST
DRONEPRO
Community safety outreach
Serving the FAA Safety Team as a DronePro.
The FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) promotes aviation safety through education and outreach. DronePros help bring that mission to the drone community — through seminars, events and one-on-one guidance. It's a commitment that shapes every lesson taught here.
Drone Mastery is an independent training company. FAASTeam participation does not imply FAA endorsement of Drone Mastery's services.
Your first lesson is a briefing away
Learn from someone who flies for a living.
Book a personalized session or tell us about your goals. Every program starts with a conversation.