September 1-3, 2026 • Caesars Forum • Las Vegas
Registration is now open - click here to register!
September 1-3, 2026 • Caesars Forum • Las Vegas
If you’re a drone service provider looking to grow your business, enhance your capabilities, or stay ahead of regulatory and technological changes, Commercial UAV Expo is your destination. With sessions focused on scaling operations, developing custom service offerings, navigating FAA regulations, and adapting to autonomy and AI, the Expo delivers the real-world insights and peer-driven knowledge today’s UAV professionals need. Whether you manage a growing fleet, train new pilots, or seek to prove ROI across departments, you’ll find actionable strategies, direct access to vendors, and industry-tested frameworks to support every stage of your business. From flight planning to futureproofing your tech stack, Commercial UAV Expo equips you to lead with confidence in an evolving marketplace.
Passing a Part 107 exam and being able to fly well are no longer enough on their own to build a sustainable drone business. The market has matured, margins for generalist operators are tightening, and
…
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
…
Utilities have moved drones from pilot programs into core operational workflows, but scaling those programs in regulated, risk-sensitive environments comes with a distinct set of challenges. Cybersecurity requirements, vendor concentration risk, data infrastructure gaps, and
…
The commercial drone industry is advancing faster than its workforce pipeline. New regulations reshape certification requirements, technology demands new skill sets, and public perception still shapes who considers a career in the sector at all.
…
In the rapidly evolving commercial drone sector, customer acquisition is the single biggest driver of sustainable revenue growth. This session gives you the playbook you need and the pitfalls you'll want to miss for 2027
…
Insurance is one of those topics drone operators know they need to take seriously, but many don’t always fully understand until they're filing a claim. This panel brings together insurance professionals who specialize in the
…
As drone programs expand from small, localized projects to enterprise-level operations, maintaining precision across massive, multi-flight datasets often becomes a major bottleneck. The outstanding question facing today's geospatial professionals is: Can you truly scale UAV
…
As the commercial drone industry continues to mature, the demand for qualified, well-prepared professionals has never been greater. This roundtable convenes educators, hiring managers, and established industry practitioners for a structured discussion on the pathways,
…
Thermal imaging is where serious drone operators go to charge serious rates. In this session, we cover the operations basics and give you a clear picture of what it actually takes to get started.
With Part 108 on the rise, commercial drone traffic will become exponentially higher in the next year. While this is an exciting advancement for industry, the influx of traffic in the airspace means more opportunities
…Autonomous flight has lowered the barrier to getting a drone in the air, but producing reliable, high-quality imagery across demanding real-world conditions still requires a pilot who understands the camera. This session examines how foundational
…
Jason Wood, Master Thermographer and Pilot Institute UAS Program Lead, will demonstrate how a thermography drone is used for a solar panel inspection. He will be showcasing how the mission is flown, what he is
…Drone technology has moved beyond experimentation — today, its value lies in how effectively it drives safer operations, measurable efficiency gains, and smarter decision-making. This session focuses on the practical, real-world application of UAS for
…
Invasive species and pest populations represent growing ecological and economic threats, and traditional management approaches struggle to match the scale of the problem. UAVs are changing that equation. This session brings together practitioners from mosquito
…
Learn to bring Aviation Safety Culture into the drone industry and into your own missions with Commercial Airline Pilot and UAS SAR expert Kyle Nordfors.
As more universities are looking to implement new UAV programs of study or keep already established programs up to date with the latest UAV applications, faculty and administration are left to set standards, determine best
…Technical skills get you in the door, but knowing how to market yourself as a drone professional is what keeps the pipeline full. This session brings together experienced professionals to share practical, field-tested approaches to
…
From scouting and spraying to mapping and monitoring, drones are showing up across nearly every aspect of modern agriculture, and they're changing what's possible in the field. Farmers are getting a bird's-eye view of their
…
The commercial drone industry is growing faster than its talent pipeline can keep up with. Companies are struggling to find candidates who combine technical flight proficiency with data skills, regulatory fluency, and the soft skills
…
Don't risk your reputation by not knowing essential site safety professionalism. You may not need to be OSHA certified to fly construction sites, but you should know the safety best practices to be professional, reduce
…Launching a drone program is one thing. Building one that scales reliably, operates safely across complex environments, and delivers consistent value over time is something else entirely. This session brings together practitioners who have navigated
…
Turning your passion for drones into a sustainable business takes more than great flights. It takes the right foundation, the right systems, and the right mindset from day one.
This roundtable discussion will give attendees
…For operators, BVLOS has long existed as a regulatory question. That’s changing. As waivers give way to standardized operations, the conversation shifts to something more practical: what does your organization actually need to look like
…
Large companies are going all in on drones and building serious internal programs to prove it. In this session, get a rare inside look at how they do it, what makes these programs succeed, and
…
Some of the most significant advances in commercial drone capability didn't originate in commercial applications, but were forged in environments that demanded absolute reliability under the most challenging conditions imaginable. This session examines how technologies
…
Passing a Part 107 exam and being able to fly well are no longer enough on their own to build a sustainable drone business. The market has matured, margins for generalist operators are tightening, and
…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
…Utilities have moved drones from pilot programs into core operational workflows, but scaling those programs in regulated, risk-sensitive environments comes with a distinct set of challenges. Cybersecurity requirements, vendor concentration risk, data infrastructure gaps, and
…The commercial drone industry is advancing faster than its workforce pipeline. New regulations reshape certification requirements, technology demands new skill sets, and public perception still shapes who considers a career in the sector at all.
…In the rapidly evolving commercial drone sector, customer acquisition is the single biggest driver of sustainable revenue growth. This session gives you the playbook you need and the pitfalls you'll want to miss for 2027
…Insurance is one of those topics drone operators know they need to take seriously, but many don’t always fully understand until they're filing a claim. This panel brings together insurance professionals who specialize in the
…As drone programs expand from small, localized projects to enterprise-level operations, maintaining precision across massive, multi-flight datasets often becomes a major bottleneck. The outstanding question facing today's geospatial professionals is: Can you truly scale UAV
…As the commercial drone industry continues to mature, the demand for qualified, well-prepared professionals has never been greater. This roundtable convenes educators, hiring managers, and established industry practitioners for a structured discussion on the pathways,
…Thermal imaging is where serious drone operators go to charge serious rates. In this session, we cover the operations basics and give you a clear picture of what it actually takes to get started.
With Part 108 on the rise, commercial drone traffic will become exponentially higher in the next year. While this is an exciting advancement for industry, the influx of traffic in the airspace means more opportunities
…Autonomous flight has lowered the barrier to getting a drone in the air, but producing reliable, high-quality imagery across demanding real-world conditions still requires a pilot who understands the camera. This session examines how foundational
…Jason Wood, Master Thermographer and Pilot Institute UAS Program Lead, will demonstrate how a thermography drone is used for a solar panel inspection. He will be showcasing how the mission is flown, what he is
…Drone technology has moved beyond experimentation — today, its value lies in how effectively it drives safer operations, measurable efficiency gains, and smarter decision-making. This session focuses on the practical, real-world application of UAS for
…Invasive species and pest populations represent growing ecological and economic threats, and traditional management approaches struggle to match the scale of the problem. UAVs are changing that equation. This session brings together practitioners from mosquito
…Learn to bring Aviation Safety Culture into the drone industry and into your own missions with Commercial Airline Pilot and UAS SAR expert Kyle Nordfors.
As more universities are looking to implement new UAV programs of study or keep already established programs up to date with the latest UAV applications, faculty and administration are left to set standards, determine best
…Technical skills get you in the door, but knowing how to market yourself as a drone professional is what keeps the pipeline full. This session brings together experienced professionals to share practical, field-tested approaches to
…From scouting and spraying to mapping and monitoring, drones are showing up across nearly every aspect of modern agriculture, and they're changing what's possible in the field. Farmers are getting a bird's-eye view of their
…The commercial drone industry is growing faster than its talent pipeline can keep up with. Companies are struggling to find candidates who combine technical flight proficiency with data skills, regulatory fluency, and the soft skills
…Don't risk your reputation by not knowing essential site safety professionalism. You may not need to be OSHA certified to fly construction sites, but you should know the safety best practices to be professional, reduce
…Launching a drone program is one thing. Building one that scales reliably, operates safely across complex environments, and delivers consistent value over time is something else entirely. This session brings together practitioners who have navigated
…Turning your passion for drones into a sustainable business takes more than great flights. It takes the right foundation, the right systems, and the right mindset from day one.
This roundtable discussion will give attendees
…For operators, BVLOS has long existed as a regulatory question. That’s changing. As waivers give way to standardized operations, the conversation shifts to something more practical: what does your organization actually need to look like
…Large companies are going all in on drones and building serious internal programs to prove it. In this session, get a rare inside look at how they do it, what makes these programs succeed, and
…Some of the most significant advances in commercial drone capability didn't originate in commercial applications, but were forged in environments that demanded absolute reliability under the most challenging conditions imaginable. This session examines how technologies
…If you’re a drone service provider looking to grow your business, enhance your capabilities, or stay ahead of regulatory and technological changes, Commercial UAV Expo is your destination. With sessions focused on scaling operations, developing custom service offerings, navigating FAA regulations, and adapting to autonomy and AI, the Expo delivers the real-world insights and peer-driven knowledge today’s UAV professionals need. Whether you manage a growing fleet, train new pilots, or seek to prove ROI across departments, you’ll find actionable strategies, direct access to vendors, and industry-tested frameworks to support every stage of your business. From flight planning to futureproofing your tech stack, Commercial UAV Expo equips you to lead with confidence in an evolving marketplace.
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
*Included with a full Conference pass
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
*Included with a full Conference pass
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
*Included with a full Conference pass
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
*Included with a full Conference pass
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
*Included with a full Conference pass
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
