Commercial UAV Expo Announces Second Keynote: Two Skies, One Conversation
Leaders from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will share the stage on the final day of Commercial UAV Expo 2026 for a candid transatlantic discussion on beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone regulations.
Keynote Details
The keynote, titled "Two Skies, One Conversation: Comparing FAA and EASA Approaches to BVLOS Drone Operations," is set for Thursday, September 3, 2026—the closing day of the three-day event. Commercial UAV Expo 2026 takes place September 1–3 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada. The session is open to all registrants, including those holding Exhibit Hall Only Passes, DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Summit or Program Management Course passes, and Full Conference Passes.
BVLOS Regulation Comparison
The moderated panel will bring together top officials from the FAA and EASA to examine how each agency is advancing scalable, routine BVLOS operations. Discussion points include how the two authorities handle operational waivers and exemptions, where risk-based frameworks such as the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) and emerging U.S. approval pathways align, and where meaningful differences persist. Attendees will gain insight into the direction of global regulatory frameworks, upcoming rulemaking milestones, and how both agencies are learning from each other's successes and setbacks to build a safer, more scalable drone ecosystem.
Quotes from Organizers
"The commercial drone industry is no longer a collection of regional markets. It is one global industry with shared ambitions and shared growing pains," said Adrianne Madden, Event Director of Commercial UAV Expo. "Our job is to provide the place where regulators, end-users, service providers, and manufacturers from around the globe can connect face to face. Featuring the FAA and EASA in our final keynote of the 2026 event is a fitting reflection of the international community Commercial UAV Expo has become."
"It's rare to get the FAA and EASA on the same stage at the same time, and rarer still to hear them compare notes candidly in front of an audience," said Matt Collins, Content Manager, Commercial UAV News. "This is a chance to hear two of the world's most influential aviation authorities work through the industry's most pressing challenges in real time, from how BVLOS is being scaled to how waivers, exemptions, and risk-based frameworks like the SORA are being applied."
Registration Information
The keynote is included with every registration type, including the Exhibit Hall Only Pass—the most affordable option. Exhibit Hall Only Pass holders gain full access to both the Opening Keynote on September 1 and the FAA and EASA keynote on September 3.
For more information on the keynotes, visit www.expouav.com/keynotes. To register and for full event details, go to www.expouav.com.
The source for this article is https://www.roboticstomorrow.com/news/2026/07/15/commercial-uav-expo-announces-second-keynote-two-skies-one-conversation/26846/.