David Crabtree on Drones, Search and Rescue, and Business Lessons

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with David Crabtree about drones, business, and the lessons that come with building something from the ground up. David is working to bring the drone industry into West Virginia through Appalachian UAV Academy. His work reaches from training first responders to exploring how drones can support rural health care, delivery, search and rescue, and other industries.

David got into drones after leaving the military. His dad flew remote-control airplanes, and David wanted a way to spend time with him. That interest turned into a passion. After a career in the corporate world, he decided to build a business around drone technology.

One of the biggest problems David wants to solve is finding missing people. He wants drones to help locate children, elderly people, and others who need to be found fast. That mission drives a lot of his work.

We also talk about the mistakes that come with entrepreneurship. David learned not to buy equipment before the market is ready. He calls that part of paying the “ignorance tax.” You do not know what you do not know, and sometimes the only way to learn is by doing the work and watching the numbers.

David also makes a point that every entrepreneur needs to hear. The skill that matters is doing the boring work over and over. Most people get excited at the start, then lose focus when the routine sets in. But the routine is where the business gets built.

David believes drones are going to change how we solve problems in West Virginia and beyond. From public safety to cleaning buildings to rural access, he sees drones as flying robots that can collect data, save time, and keep people safer.