Drones have been touted as enabling a potential 90% in timesavings, while the costs associated with using drone vs. a survey crew are exponentially different. These differences have spurred talk around starting a drone program at companies of all sizes, but establishing the right foundations to ensure these kinds of programs don’t fail is far less pervasive. Why are some UAS programs successful when other fail? How should stakeholders measure and communicate the value of a drone program? This session will explore these questions and more.
Session moderated by Mark Bathrick, Bathrick Aviation Consulting

Should You Build or Outsource Your Drone Program?
The justification for adopting drone technology isn’t just about data or information; it’s about finances and the bottom line. Often that leads to a question of “build or outsource a drone program?”, but the answer isn’t that simple. This session will address the considerations and risk-management factors inherent in choices when it comes to in-house drone programs, outsourcing these services, or using a hybrid approach. Presenters will share processes for developing safe, effective and efficient UAS operations. This will include hazard identification and mitigation, mission planning, and field operation protocols that have a proven record for acceptance and effectiveness. Some of these considerations that will be fully defined in the session include:

·       Hardware & software costs including third party
·       Training costs
·       Insurance
·       The role of automated solutions in deciding whether to in-source
·       Planning for technology obsolescence
·       Contract negotiations
·       Data ownership & access
·       What a hybrid approach can look like
·       Regulatory implications
·       Actualize an ROI by securing limited 107.31 waivers right now
·       Secure future BVLOS waivers that are not geographically constrained

Attendees will come away from this session with a sense of what they’ll need to define in order to establish or expand their drone program. Those specifics will be understood in financial terms to bring back to organizational stakeholders.