September 1 to 3, 2026 · Caesars Forum, Las Vegas
Pilot Institute is bringing exclusive education, hands-on training, and expert resources to Las Vegas.
Your Exhibit Hall Pass is free ($250 value), or take $100 off the full conference when you register with our code.
Doors open in
Why this is the room to be in
This is where operators see what is coming next, meet the companies building it, and connect with the teams that hire operators. All of it at Caesars Forum, with 50+ conference sessions and the whole industry under one roof.
Walk the floor and put your hands on the latest aircraft, payloads, and software before it reaches the field. You will see what is shipping next, not what shipped last year.
The people who design the platforms and the people who buy them are both in the room. Ask the questions that never get answered over email, and talk through your real use cases face to face.
Construction, infrastructure, agriculture, energy, and public safety teams come here to source operators. This is where a hallway conversation turns into your next job.
The centerpiece
The Pilot Hub is a zone on the show floor built around free, expert-led sessions. Every talk is included with any pass, so there is no extra ticket and no upsell. You sit down, you learn something you can use the same week, and you get back to the floor.
It is also the easiest place to find us. Come say hi, sit in on a session, and ask our instructors the questions that brought you to Vegas.
The people on stage
Pilot Institute sessions
The sessions below are Pilot Institute's contributions to the program, free with any pass. The full Commercial UAV Expo lineup includes 50+ sessions in total, available with a Full Conference Pass. Come early, the good seats go fast.
We open the show with the honest state of the industry, straight from the people flying every day. Where the work is, what is changing, and what operators are telling us about 2026.
Greg Reverdiau
Matthew CollinsIn 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.
Amy WiegandGreat flying means nothing if the photos do not deliver. Vic covers the top five drone photography mistakes that make clients cringe, and how to fix every one.
Vic MossThermal imaging is where serious drone operators go to charge serious rates. We cover the operational basics and give you a clear picture of what it actually takes to get started.
Jason WoodSee how thermography works for a solar panel inspection in this interactive demo with Jason Wood (Level 3 Thermography pilot and Pilot Institute UAS Program Lead), including how to identify and record irregular heat signatures.
Jason WoodOperators from across the industry get real about the mistakes that cost them and the lessons that changed everything.
Amy WiegandJared JanacekVic MossDesi EcksteinLearn to bring aviation safety culture into the drone industry and into your own missions with commercial airline pilot and UAS search-and-rescue expert Kyle Nordfors.
Kyle NordforsFlying the drone is the easy part. Turning that data into something your client values is where the real work (and the real money) is. Jared walks through his full data-processing workflow, from the moment the drone lands to the final deliverable.
Jared JanacekYou may not need to be OSHA certified to fly construction sites, but you should know the safety best practices that keep you professional, reduce risk, and win long-term contracts.
Desi EcksteinA rare inside look at how large companies build serious internal drone programs, what makes them succeed, and where the opportunities are for operators ready to play at that level.
Greg ReverdiauJason WoodDustin SchockenCome find us
We're in two places. Booth 725 sits near the entrance, just past the front of the hall, and it's where you can meet the team, talk through your work, and get a straight answer in person. The Pilot Hub is our sponsored zone in the center of the floor, where the free sessions run all week.
Greg Reverdiau, Jason Wood, and the rest of the Pilot Institute crew are on site all three days. Both spots are outlined on the map below.
⊕ Click to Enlarge
Register with code PILOTINSTITUTE
Free Exhibit Hall Pass ($250 value) or $100 off the full conference. Register with our code, then come find us at the Pilot Hub.
Trouble registering or have a question about your pass? The Commercial UAV Expo team can help at [email protected].
