Keynotes

The View From the Field: What Operators, Pilots, and Fleet Managers Are Saying About the Commercial Drone Industry

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

What do pilots, fleet managers, and commercial drone operators actually think about the state of the commercial drone industry? Earlier this year, Commercial UAV News and Pilot Institute set out to find out, surveying the practitioners and professionals who keep operations running every day.

In this keynote, Commercial UAV News Content Manager Matt Collins will share highlights from that research, spotlighting the trends, frustrations, and opportunities that emerged directly from the people closest to the work. He’ll then be joined by Greg Reverdiau, Pilot Institute’s co-founder for a wide-ranging conversation about what the data means for the industry’s trajectory — from regulatory hurdles and hardware procurement to workforce development and the future of commercial drone operations.

This session puts operator voices at the center, offering an unfiltered look at what the commercial drone industry is experiencing on the ground, and where the people doing the work believe it needs to go from here.

Featuring:

Matt Collins

Content Manager
Commercial UAV News

Greg Reverdiau

Co-Founder
Pilot Institute

Thursday Keynote – Breaking Silos, Building Skies: The Power of Collaboration in UAS

Thursday, September 4, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

As commercial drone operations become more capable, they also become more complex. Many service providers and end users find themselves overwhelmed by changing regulations, evolving technology, and increasing client demands. This keynote explores how collaboration across the ecosystem can cut through the complexity and lead to more efficient, scalable, and valuable drone operations. Featuring service providers and industry specialists, this keynote will share strategies to untangle and uncomplicate drone operations.

You’ll hear actionable strategies on how to:

Navigate regulatory processes like BVLOS more confidently
Build productive partnerships with clients and regulators
Align on project outcomes without needing to be an expert in everything
Work with skilled collaborators to unlock bigger opportunities

The final segment of the panel will take a forward-looking turn, introducing how emerging technologies including AI and autonomy are transforming the role of drones and service providers. Panelists will explore as how to prepare for these new technologies and workflows that introduce new elements of complexity.

Whether you’re trying to get your foot in the door or prepare for what’s next, this keynote will offer a practical and inspiring roadmap for simplifying the work, unlocking value, and staying future-ready.

Moderated by: Featuring:

Outlining the Future of Drone Regulations with the FAA

What’s now and what’s next with commercial drone regulation is top of mind for operators and organizations across the entire drone industry and the FAA has those answers. How are drones factoring into considerations when it comes to how the FAA is setting, overseeing and enforcing safety standards for all aspects of the aviation industry? How could these changes have a direct impact on domestic and international civil aviation safety? Lisa Ellman from the Commercial Drone Alliance will explore all of these questions and more as part of a candid conversation with Jodi Baker, Deputy Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety of the FAA to help stakeholders move forward with commercial drone operations in the short and long term.

Moderated by: Featuring:

Keynote Conversation: The Secret to Success for Public & Enterprise Drone Programs: Intentional Implementation for Scalable Adoption

The value that drones can unlock for large organizations when it comes to performing tasks in faster, cheaper and safer ways have been well documented, but that understanding often is not enough to translate to adoption. How will adding drones impact established processes? If the number of boots on the ground are reduced, how can those same assets be redeployed in a more effective manner? What does it mean to calculate how a sizable investment in the technology today will make sense tomorrow?

Listen to the answers that Chief Operating Officer of Houston Public Works Randy Macchi and Josh Fredriksson from Pacific Gas & Electric has to all of these questions and more. They’ll explore the approach city services and large enterprises need to take when it comes to rethinking workflows, reskilling the workforce and future-proofing investments in the technology. Attendees will come away from this conversation with the insights they need to develop a strategic plan for their drone program, regardless of the current size or use.

Moderated by: