Keynote Speakers from FAA, Houston Public Works, and PG&E to Highlight Regulations and Success Strategies
Organizers of Commercial UAV Expo, the world’s leading commercial drone trade show and conference, have announced an extensive conference program and an impressive speaker line-up focused on advancing the commercial drone industry. Register by July 19 for early bird rates!
The 2024 event, themed “Drones in Action: Current Realities & Future Frontiers,” will take place from September 3-5 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas. The conference will highlight how drone technology is solving real-world problems and creating meaningful ROI across various sectors, including Construction, Energy and Utilities, Infrastructure and Transportation, and Policy.
On September 5, the Thursday Keynote will feature a discussion on FAA regulations with Jodi Baker, Deputy Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety at the FAA, moderated by Lisa Ellman, Executive Director of the Commercial Drone Alliance. This session, titled “Outlining the Future of Drone Regulations with the FAA,” will address how drones are factored into FAA decisions on setting, overseeing, and enforcing safety standards, impacting both domestic and international aviation safety.
Following the FAA discussion, a panel titled “The Secret to Success for Public & Enterprise Drone Programs: Intentional Implementation for Scalable Adoption” will include Randy Macchi, Chief Operating Officer of Houston Public Works, and Josh Fredriksson, Senior Director of Inspections at PG&E. They will share insights on rethinking workflows, reskilling the workforce, and future-proofing technology investments, providing a strategic roadmap for successful drone program implementation.
“We know that regulation and ROI are top of mind for commercial drone operators, and this year’s keynotes will tackle both to set the tone for the event while also providing attendees with actionable strategies,” said Jeremiah Karpowicz, Group Editorial Director of Diversified Communications and organizer of Commercial UAV Expo. “Everything with drone regulation begins and ends with the FAA, so hearing what Jodi has to say will help shape the approach anyone can take for scaling uncrewed operations. Connected to that are the real-world lessons and advice that Randy and Josh will share, underscoring what it means to unlock the true value of drones and maximize ROI at scale.”
The education program will also feature various Industry Tracks, including:
- Advancing Critical Infrastructure Inspections
- Beyond the Bottom Line: Focus on Safety
- Creating a Strong Industrial Drone Space
- Understanding and Embracing Drone Workflows in Construction
- Case Studies in Energy & Utilities
- Homing in on Accuracy in Drone-Based Measurements
- UTM Ecosystems & Operations
Select sessions are produced with Commercial UAV Expo’s Official Association Partner, the Commercial Drone Alliance, which advocates for the commercial use of drones by reducing barriers to enable this game-changing technology.
Lee Corkhill, Group Event Director at Diversified Communications, emphasized the event’s significance: “Commercial UAV Expo is the most important global event for commercial drone professionals and those looking to enter the commercial drone market. This year’s conference program is the place to find commercial drone innovations and strategies that allow operators and end-users to move forward in the technology.”
In addition to the main conference, the Expo will host two co-located education programs: DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit, focusing on public safety UAS operations, and FLYING HY Conference and Hydrogen Aviation Course, covering all aspects of hydrogen aviation.
The event will kick off on Tuesday, September 3, with pre-conference programming, Live Outdoor Flying Demonstrations, and a Welcome Reception. The full conference program and exhibits will run from September 4-5, featuring over 225 solution providers and attracting 3,750 commercial drone professionals from around the world. Attendees can also visit the new Drone Pilot Hub for insights and presentations from industry leaders.
Visit www.expouav.com for more information on attending or exhibiting, and register by July 19 for early bird rates!
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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