Business

INTERDRONE 2018 CONTENT. CHECK BACK SOON FOR THE 2019 PROGRAM!

Operating a drone-based business requires knowledge of current regulations, policies, insurance needs, safety, privacy laws, accounting and more. Receive the knowledge you need to command your business and ensure its future growth and success with InterDrone’s Business Track.


Tuesday, September 4th

Pre-Conference Workshop: Part 107 Training

Full-Day Workshop

11:00 AM – 5:30 PM

All

Speakers: Enrico Schaefer, Tony Sauerbrey

This all-day training session will focus on the essential areas to study for the Part 107 Knowledge Test. Course content and objectives will include Part 107 rules and regulations, aeronautical charts, weather patterns and National Airspace System (NAS), as well as eligibility requirements to be able to take the FAA written knowledge test.

This session will cover more than just the fine details of what you need to know for the Knowledge Test, but also provide you with insight on how to think and operate like a professional commercial drone pilot and provide you with everyday examples that remote pilots may encounter when out performing commercial flight operations for themselves or their clients. This session will be a comprehensive overview to assist you with preparation for taking the Part 107 Knowledge Test and think about the next steps beyond the Knowledge Test.

THOSE OTHER TOPS/TIPS TO INCLUDE:

• Following policies and practices such as pre-flight and post-flight checklist for every drone flight operations

• Online test prep resources (handout)

• Industry Standards

• FAA Past Practices and the direction they are moving forward with

YOU WILL WALK AWAY WITH KNOWLEDGE REGARDING:

• Understanding Part 107 Regulations

• Understanding and identifying the various classes of controlled, uncontrolled, and Special Use airspace.

• An understanding of how to read and interpret aeronautical chart symbology.

• Planning methods to translate a location on street/satellite maps into an aeronautical chart.

• Understanding of Aeronautical Decision Making and human factors affecting safe flight.

• Understanding basic weather principles.

• Interpreting weather reports and forecasts.


Pre-Conference Workshop: Drone Startup 101: Finding Your Fortune in the Drone Industry

Half-Day Workshop

2:00 PM – 5:30 PM

All

Speakers: Allen Scott Beach, Andrea Beach

This half-day workshop will focus on helping you find success in the drone industry. We will cover everything from deciding what kind of business to start to sales, marketing and the top 5 checklist. We will help you simplify the process of starting and running a successful drone company, and discuss simple strategies such as: “Do what you know,” “There is nothing more important than sales” and “Be willing to throw out the status quo.” While no one can guarantee your success, what is guaranteed is that there’s no chance of success if you never begin.

OTHER TOPICS AND TIPS TO INCLUDE:

• Drone Opportunities Abound: Selecting what’s right for you.

• Trail Blazers: Learn from those that have gone before you.

• How to build a competitive advantage

• Marketing on a shoestring

• The hunt for start-up capital

YOU WILL WALK AWAY WITH:

• The key components of starting a drone business

• A myriad of viable options for drone start-ups

• An understanding of what it takes to be successful


Wednesday, September 5th

Unlocking Real-Time Drone Insights on the Job Site

Class

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Track: Surveying and Mapping | Business | Precision Agriculture |Inspection | Construction, Aggregates and Mining

Speaker: Jono Millin

Drone mapping is an innovative and cost-efficient way to collect aerial data on projects in construction, agriculture, energy, and more. But in a fast-moving world, data needs to keep up with your operations. Your decisions and your bottom line depend on it. That’s why the future of drone mapping is in real-time. You can’t afford to wait a day or even hours for aerial insights.

Join experts from DroneDeploy to get a firsthand look at Live Map, the only real-time mapping solution that enables instant aerial insights and thermal inspections…no computer, SD card, or internet connection required.

You can expect to walk away with a better understanding of the many ways drones revolutionize industry workflows and the latest tools you can put to work to unlock the full potential of drones on the job site.


Accelerating Needs for Spectrum Solutions for UAS

Class

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Track: All

Speaker: Jennifer Richter

Join this class for a discussion on the pending AIA proposal for new UAS C2 spectrum; how autonomy impacts spectrum needs; whether new spectrum is needed for ADS-B-like transponder functions; what the Commission is considering for collision avoidance spectrum; and increasing concerns related to using unlicensed bands.


Best Practices for Managing Enterprise Drone Programs

Class

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Track: Business

Speaker: Jesse Stepler

Large-scale adoption of drone technology in the corporate and public sectors may be slowed by operations that are too complex or high risk. Streamlined operations and oversight are needed to grow enterprise drone programs and realize the transformative benefits of aerial intelligence. Learn from commercial drone operators, well versed in managing thousands of flights, how to employ software, train pilots, and implement risk mitigation procedures to make your program a success.

In this session, you’ll learn:

Consistency is king. Understanding the value of consistent pilot training and equipment decisions, and how to determine what is best for your specific application.

Make it automatic. Manual processes mean things get missed. How to implement automatic processes such as uploads of flight logs and screen captures to ensure complete program oversight.

Safety first. Give your pilots the tools to implement consistent safety procedures and risk assessments with every operation. Then set limits on things like altitude and speed and get notified of any potential issues.

One is better than two. Understand the functions you need to manage your drone program, then identify the most efficient solution. Choosing multi-functional software and integrating into your existing workflow will simplify your operations and save costs.


FAA Regulations: The Latest Outlook

Panel

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Track: All

Moderator: Christopher Korody

Speakers: Bill Goodwin, Lydia Hilton, Bob Kirk, Anthony Zakel

This panel will immediately follow FAA Acting Administrator Elwell’s Keynote address. The panel will react to the speech – what was surprising, what was expected and what was missing. They will then discuss some of the many legislative and regulatory issues that need to be resolved, including: 336, Remote ID, UAS IPP, LAANC, waivers, BVLOS and the proposed ULC Drone Tort Law. They will also take your questions from the floor.


How to Prove Safety: Gaining BVLOS and Part 107 Waiver

Class

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Track: All

Speaker: Adam Robertson

This session will address the key ways to establish proof of safety in your drone program, and discuss how to achieve BVLOS for UAV and steps for securing a Part 107 Waiver. An autonomous drone revolution is underway to tap the economic potential of the vast and largely empty airspace overhead. Drones are already an indispensable part of the daily workflow in many industries, including search and rescue, construction, mining, agriculture, real estate and film making. Emerging UAV capabilities such as large infrastructure inspection, border patrol and package transport require safe beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) services to be economically viable. So, what’s the best solution to achieving BVLOS?

Many solutions claim to enable safer flight and detect-and-avoid capabilities; however, radar is proven to be a superior solution to help UAV and operators achieve BVLOS. The FAA has prioritized radar as the key technology for development in achieving optimal safety and security in the airspace. This talk will discuss key developments to radar solutions, including machine learning, AI, software enhancement for data mapping and more, all which can be deployed and applied to most any kind of drone.

The class will also outline the steps necessary to secure the critical Part 107 Waiver for operation in controlled airspace, helping companies to save time and resources on the process. While the FAA has attempted to streamline the application process through its DroneZone portal, there are some key things you will learn that can facilitate the process. The 107 Waiver allows for UAVs to operate at night, over people, flight from a moving vehicle or truck, operate multiple aircraft with a single pilot, fly beyond visual line of sight, flight above 400 feet, and fly near airports and other protected airspace.

You will walk away knowing how the use of radar and gaining a Part 107 Waiver can help unlock the many benefits that a world of drone commerce can offer.


Partnerships and the Future of the Commercial Drone Industry Landscape

Panel

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM

Track: All

Moderator: Michael Blades

Speakers: Derek Lyons, Joshua Ziering, Bill Chen, Basil Yap

The commercial drone ecosystem is changing almost as rapidly as the technology that drives it. This panel will discuss, from both a US and global view, how the commercial drone services market has transitioned from a stove-piped development approach to a race to provide a one-stop shop for all-in-one services supporting various industries. However, not all partnerships are as beneficial as they seem while others hit solution services out the park. This panel will cover what these partnerships mean for the commercial drone ecosystem as well as the opportunities they may produce or possibly eliminate through their synergies.


How Drones are Going to Change Real Estate Marketing and the Opportunities for UAV Operators in the Real Estate Market

Class

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Track: Cinema and Photo | Business

Speaker: John McDonald

We already know what great pictures, videos and 3D mapping UAVs can offer. Come learn now how to market yourself and company to the CEO of a Home Building business, CEO of a Developer, learn what things are important to them and what stage of their work do they need your service. By understanding the current methods, you will learn how to market your services to a commercial broker, a land planner, engineer, architect, VP of Sale and Marketing, Retail managers, local Realtor’s. Understanding all the benefits may surprise you. Learn which real estate associations you should be aware of and how to rank all the upcoming projects in your home area.


Moving Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management Forward: The Current Landscape

Panel

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Track: All

Moderator: Jim Williams

Speakers: Biruk Abraham, Mark Aitken, Marke “Hoot” Gibson, Joseph Rios

In the first half of this 120-minute panel, the current landscape of UTM will be discussed from policy and regulatory standpoints. With programs like Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) rolling out, the path to flying quickly, legally and safely is becoming more streamlined. But what’s the state of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations? Where does UAS remote tracking and identification currently stand? This panel of industry-leading experts with discuss these topics as well as the reality of implementation and integration into our National Airspace System (NAS).


Drones Impact on Facility Management

Class

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Track: Business | Inspection

Speakers: Andrew Dennison, Austin Rabine

Learn how large enterprises are incorporating drone data into their facility management operations. Insurers and property managers will learn how drones can reduce truck rolls by handling bullets on an inspectors checklist. Additionally, drone data can be stored to create an entire property portfolio health assessment. Inspections being done today with drone data:

– roof inspections (thermal and visual)

– property inventory

– pavement quality

– landscape management

– facade inspections


Moving Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management Forward: The Future Landscape

Panel

4:15 PM – 5:15 PM

Track: All

Moderator: Jim Williams

Speakers: Eric Ringer, Ben Marcus, Paul McDuffee

The second half of this 120-minute panel will cover the path forward for UTM from a technical, real-world implementation standpoint. You will hear from the companies that are facilitating the advancement of UTM through their solutions and programs, and learn what resources are available to you now for flying quickly, legally and safely. The future vision for fully integrating drones into our National Airspace System (NAS) will also be discussed.


Harnessing the Power of Your Drone Data

Panel

4:15 PM – 5:15 PM

Track: All

Moderator: Colin Snow

Speakers: Amit Ganjoo, Marty Scholl, Pat Lohman

Drones gather a trove of information and data, but how do you turn that data into actionable business insights? From the collection process to analysis and decision making, this panel will cover the best ways to harness the data in your pipeline while increasing productivity and your bottom line.


Best Practices for Scaling and Streamlining Your Drone Ops

Class

4:15 PM – 5:15 PM

Track: All

Speakers: Tom Owen, Joshua Ziering

If you are looking to start a drone program or already have one in place within your enterprise, then this class is for you.

Tom Owen and Josh Ziering will present actionable insights and tips for streamlining and growing your drone program, based on years of experience working with diverse enterprise and public-sector partners.

Tom will delve into best practices he sees during his field trips meeting customers across the country. Josh will discuss how to effectively and safely manage your pilots and scale your fleet, from pre-flight to in-flight to post-flight. You’ll learn how to put repeatable processes in place so your team will be able to collect data and create insights that can move seamlessly back into your organization.

By attending this class, you will get answers to questions like:

– What kind of standard operating procedures work at scale?

– How can you help mitigate the risk a drone program poses to your organization?

– How do you build a culture of safety and accountability?

– How do you manage increased accountability around LAANC operations?

– When is the right time to call the FAA/NTSB after an accident?


Understanding Airspace: UAS, GA and Airspace COAs

Class

4:15 PM – 5:15 PM

Track: All

Speaker: Michael W. den Hartog

Airspace can be complicated, and the fixed wing or rotor craft have owned the sky for years. But, drones are here to stay, so where can they and cannot fly? What airspace is what, and what is the alphabet soup of airspace? Understanding the Sectional charts and working together to integrate drones is a must. Most are willing to cooperate but who is responsible for what? Being on the same page or map is very important, thus understanding what we are looking at is imperative. Join us for a look into sectional charts and the symbols on them and an overview of what airspace is, and why. We will also briefly chat what is forecasted to come and how LAANC changes the game. We will talk about the airports not in LAANC and what it takes to get an Airspace Authorization. We will also talk about how to increase your chances of getting those hard to obtain COAs for military airspace.


Enterprise After Hours

Enterprise After Hours

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Track: All

Speaker:

Looking for a place to socialize with your peers by industry? Then attend InterDrone’s very first Enterprise After Hours!

The Enterprise After Hours will take place in the evening on Wednesday, September 5, and are concurrent special networking events with dedicated rooms and discussion in the following verticals:

– Construction, Aggregates and Mining

– Inspection (which will include both energy and infrastructure inspection)

– Precision Agriculture

– Public Safety

– Surveying and Mapping

This new show feature is designed to foster interactions with fellow attendees, vendors and influencers in their commercial drone sector of choice.

Have your business cards ready!

*This session is open to all badge holders.


Thursday, September 6th

Managing Drone Data: Choosing the Right Data Service Provider

Class

8:45 AM – 9:45 AM

Track: All

Speaker: Colin Snow

Choosing a drone data service means choosing a trusted business partner. But with so many choices, it can be hard to know which one you should use. What advantage does one have over another? Unfortunately, the answers are not simple. A lot depends on your business model, your target market, what functions you need, and quite frankly how much you are willing to spend. The good news is the current wave of development and innovation in online drone data services is focused on mapping and analytic solutions that drone business service providers and enterprises can use to help solve real world problems – problems like infrastructure decay, crop yields, stockpile inaccuracies, improper construction sequencing, mining site logistics, etc. With that in mind, in this session I’ll outline the important criteria to help you evaluate the various web-based mapping and imaging services for drones.

In this session, you’ll learn:

• Who are the major providers and what’s their focus?

• How to determine the value of the services they provide?

• What questions should you be asking when comparing offerings?

• What’s the best way to integrating a service into your existing workflow so that it simplifies your operations and save costs?


Addressing the Proficiency Gap in Part 107 Operations. Are Your Pilots Really Ready?

Class

8:45 AM – 9:45 AM

Track: Business | Public Safety

Speaker: Brendan Stewart

On paper, your drone program is ready for takeoff. You’ve acquired the right equipment, developed standard operating procedures, acquired any necessary authorizations from the FAA and each pilot on your team has a freshly minted Remote Pilot’s certificate. There’s just one problem. No one on your team has ever actually flown a drone. With the justification of your drone program built on the pillars of cost, efficiency, and safety, your business can’t afford the liability associated with a trial-and-error approach. So how do you empower your pilots to climb the learning curve without making expensive and dangerous mistakes? Brendan shares the techniques his students building public safety drone programs utilize to ensure success in mission-critical operations and how your business can benefit. You will learn:

• The high cost of bad data: How minor errors in data capture snowball into expensive problems.

• Workforce development: The competitive edge held by companies investing in their pilots.

• Setting the standard: How proficiency minimums protect your business and improve results

• Take notes: How good recordkeeping limits liability and improves your bottom line

• Tripping points: where enterprise players get stuck with drones, and how you can avoid their pitfalls.


How TV News Benefits from Drones

Panel

8:45 AM – 9:45 AM

Track: Business | Cinema and Photo

Moderator: Erika Blackwell

Speakers: Michael W. den Hartog, Douglas Spotted Eagle, Heather Newman

Last year was a pivotal moment for drones in newsgathering. From Hurricane Harvey to the Southern California Wildfires, drones played an integral part in the way news was covered. CNN also received a milestone Part 107 waiver to fly over people, paving the way for expanded flight operations in not only newsgathering, but other commercial drone industries. This panel will discuss future opportunities and the ways drones will continue to change journalism.


Working with the FAA on Construction Projects

Class

8:45 AM – 9:45 AM

Track: Business | Construction, Aggregates and Mining

Speaker: Chan Ahn

It is an exhilarating experience to fly a drone within 800 feet of an active State airport while communicating with the air traffic control tower. Wind, air traffic, private planes, touring helicopters, multiple moving cranes and unexpected situations contribute to complications. This class will peak behind the scenes to learn what it takes to operate a drone near an airport.


Maximizing Still Photography Results

Class

8:45 AM – 9:45 AM

Track: Cinema and Photo | Business

Speaker: Fiona Lake

How do you create drone images that stand out, in an increasingly over-saturated market? This class will help your ability to create images that are special.

The session will begin with photography fundamentals then move on to tackling the additional challenges involved in aerial photography, mistakes to avoid, and how to be successfully selective.

Followed by the pros and cons of the most popular drones used for photography, then tips such as effective social media promotion and what moving from hobby to professional-standard photography entails.

Fiona’s presentation will be illustrated by aerial photographs taken across Australia and include comments on some of the changes she has seen during three decades as an aerial photographer, plus views on what the future is likely to hold.


Flying Drones for Insurance Claims

Panel

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Track: Business

Moderator: Randy Goers

Speakers: Bruce Crankshaw, Randy Ishikawa, Jono Millin, Jerry Walton

The United States had its fair share of natural disasters last year, as did insurance claims for major property damage. One path to facilitating faster claims and keeping insurance inspectors secure was employing drones to collect aerial photos, which proved cheaper, safer and more efficient. As a drone service provider, what do you need to know before flying for insurance claims? This panel will cover getting set up, privacy rules, and how to secure contracts.


Federal Drone Legislation on the Horizon

Class

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Track: Business

Speaker: Greg Walden

Congress makes its voice heard on US aviation policy – including UAS policies – through legislation to reauthorize the FAA. This class will examine UAS provisions in House and Senate FAA reauthorization bills and the prospects for passage before current FAA authorities expire on September 30, as well as ways in which the bills demonstrate any commitment to advance the industry and ways in which they fall short. It will consider the key differences between the two pieces of legislation and include an informed discussion on how they should be improved before a final bill goes to the President for his signature. Topics to be covered include unmanned traffic management (UTM), countermeasures, and Section 336, among others.


Make Open-Source Drone Technologies Work for the Enterprise

Class

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Track: Dronecode Platform | Development and Hardware | Business

Speakers: Jonathan Claman, Kevin Sartori

Based on many years of experience and inputs from hundreds of stakeholders in the drone industry, Dronecode is an open-source standard that provides a comprehensive baseline of functionality used to build drone products and solutions. By themselves, or together with professional integration partners, drone manufacturers and drone service providers can add their own customizations and innovations on top of this core functionality.

Targeted to product managers and business managers, this session covers the best practices of making open source work in enterprise environments. It begins with a review of open-source technologies in general, as well as importance of standard-based solutions, and then goes on to discuss the key requirements for building a state-of-the-art commercial drone in 2018/2019. The session concludes with some tips and success factors to consider as you embark on your own journey. The class is sponsored by Dronecode, presented by Kevin Sartori, Co-Founder, and Jonathan Claman, Head of Product Management at Auterion.


State and Local Regulation of Unmanned Aircraft – What You Can and Can’t Do and How to Keep You Out of Trouble

Class

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Track: Business

Speaker: Mark McKinnon

Many state and local governments have not been shy about their desire to regulate all aspects of UAS operation. Over the years, states have enacted laws and regulations attempting to limit who can fly, where they can fly, how they fly, what data they can collect, and what they can do with it. Last year alone, 38 states proposed laws addressing some aspect of UAS operations, and the pace has not let up this year.

In this seminar, we will bring you up to date about all of the latest developments in state and local UAS regulations. The topics covered will include:

• The latest state and local regulations and current trends

• What are state privacy laws and how to deal with them

• Trespass and state control of airspace

• Federal preemption and what state and local laws are unenforceable

• The authority of state and local police over your UAS operations and how to handle them if they come by

• Authority of state and local first responders and UAS operations during a natural disaster

This class will provide an overview of the issues and legal concepts and is intended for novices and those with an intermediate understanding of the issues. It is relevant to anyone who operates UAS commercially, particularly those who operate UAS in multiple state jurisdictions.


Growing Your Drone Service Business After Hours

After Hours

7:00 PM – 8:15 PM

Track: All

Moderator: Colin Snow

Speakers: Michael Singer, Ed Hine, Jerry Walton

So you have your drone service business, but how do you grow it? Hear from those who have made it in the booming commercial drone service provider market during this special after hours event. Hear which market segments will take off next and where drone service providers are making the most impact and having the most success. Learn about the pitfalls, best practices, and the sure-fire ways of taking your drone business to the next level!


DJI After Hours: The Future of the Commercial UAV Ecosystem

After Hours

7:00 PM – 8:15 PM

Track: All

Moderator: Romeo Durscher

Speakers: Bill Chen, Francisco Toro, Hai Vo

Join DJI and its partners for an after-hours session, discussing the future ecosystem of unmanned aerial systems. DJI will host an intimate Q&A session, where audience members have an opportunity to ask experts from DJI and its select partners some pressing questions.


Friday, September 7th

Ten Most Common Mistakes Drone Start-up Companies Make

Class

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Track: Business

Speaker: Eric Hanscom

Many entrepreneurs have great ideas, but turning an idea into a profitable business is not so easy. The world of intellectual property is not an easy one to understand, and there are all sorts of misconceptions and “urban legends” that can lead an inventor or business down the wrong path, and sometimes it is a one-way ticket to disaster. Is it OK to write your own provisional and then expect a patent attorney to later “fix the mistakes” with a utility application? What makes for a good trademark name? If you have a copyright whenever you create something, why bother registering the copyright? Can you just “design patent” your invention to protect others from copying your technology? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this session.

Included in the discussion will be the proper use of Provisional Patent Applications, differences between Utility and Design patents, effective use of the PCT, Madrid Protocol and trademark filings. We will also simplify the patent and trademark examination procedures, and give some tips of how to minimize legal expenses and maximize legal protection.


Do Drones Disturb Wildlife?

Panel

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Track: All

Moderator: David Bird

Speakers: Dr. David Johnston, Jeff Sloan, Courtney Smith

Drones are being embraced more and more by biologists and conservationists all over the world as a useful tool to count, detect, track and observe wildlife. However, not all agree with their use. Some feel that these sometimes noisy machines can pose a hazard to wildlife and they want their use curtailed through stricter regulations or even banned in some places. This panel, composed of experts using drones to study wildlife, will discuss the pros and cons of adopting these machines for this purpose and what steps we must take to make more effective use of the technology. During the discussion, you will also learn about the latest successes (and failures) in their use.


Drones and the Power of Artificial Intelligence

Panel

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Track: All

Moderator: Christopher Korody

Speakers: Jaime Machuca, Kraettli L. Epperson , Nitin Gupta

Drones and Artificial Intelligence seem to go hand in hand now, and it’s easy to see why. With computer vision technology capable of collision avoidance, and systems smart enough to learn and operate on behalf of the human operator, AI could be the conduit for safely and reliably integrating drones into our National Airspace System (NAS) and the path to expanding flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). The use cases are endless as are the opportunities. Learn about them and more in this panel.


Risk Management for Commercial Drone Operations

Class

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM

Track: Business

Speaker: Scott Smith

If you are planning on getting paid to fly your drone, do you know the risks? What makes the use commercial? This Drone Risk Management class will discuss the basics of risk management and the use of drone insurance as part of that plan, types of coverages available, various license and equipment requirements and more.


Insights from Images: How Drones and Image-Based Mapping and analytics are Transforming the Mining Industry

Class

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM

Track: Construction, Aggregates and Mining | Business

Speaker: Matthieu Lefebvre

The mining industry is being rushed by a challenging macroeconomic environment, pushing the C-suite and managers to transform their businesses to mine smarter. The digital can help in this matter as it unlocks real business value by empowering executives to make better decisions, faster, safer and cheaper. Drones and image-based mapping are proving to reinvent the day-to-day businesses on mining sites. Smart mines in practice with drones and images are impacting asset lifecycle management, operational risk and compliance management, as well as supply chain management. Higher business impact can be achieved through in-house drone and image-based end-to-end solutions fully integrated into the enterprise systems. Going this way to the next level with a scaled enterprise-wide integration can help driving the competitive advantage and secure the profitability for businesses in this challenging mining industry.


The Future is Female – Women in the Drone Industry

Class

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Track: Business

Speakers: Sharon Rossmark, Wendy Erikson

As the UAS industry has grown, so has the number of women entering and succeeding in the industry. Women were seemingly left out of the initial economic equation for determining the progression and opportunities within the industry. But in only a few short years women have emerged as a major marketing target. This session will cover how women are succeeding in the industry, and how to successfully market to this growing and vital segment.


Preview of Proposed Part 107 Flight Over People Parachute Recovery System Requirements

Class

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Track: Development and Hardware | Business

Speaker: Gene Engelgau

Interested in Flight over people? Be one of the first to know how the proposed Flight Over People rules being worked on now by the ASTM F0.38 committee may affect you when it comes to parachute safety. We will cover the research of the FAA’s ASSURE study that motivated the move to eventually mandate parachutes for flight over people. In detail, you will learn what the certification process will be, like weight + impact energy requirements and mandatory airworthiness testing. We will breakdown the necessary components for creating a PRS for each type of UAS. Also what is needed to both trigger the PRS and terminate flight. This session will also provide insight into why this will not be possible with certain types of consumer drones and the barriers that have kept manufactures from wanting to implement parachute recovery in the first place. We will cover the ways in which having a parachute recovery system or PRS can benefit your business. This will include factors like business continuance, cost of failure, regulatory issues, and insurance. This topic will affect much of the drone industry soon. Don’t miss your chance to learn from the industry’s leading parachute expert.


Project Management Fundamentals For Your Commercial Drone Operation

Class

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Track: All

Speaker: Brett Hoffstadt

Commercial drone operations, to be effective, must deliver quality results within business constraints of cost, schedule, staffing, regulations, and other organizational factors. How can you ensure that your scope is feasible within these constraints? What are your biggest risks? How can you be proactive to prevent them from becoming real issues? How best to delegate, assign, and track roles and responsibilities so that every necessary task is completed? Who are the key stakeholders in your organization? What are effective strategies to influence and manage them, including the nay-sayers? This class will give you an accelerated overview of the 10 knowledge areas of project management through best practices, essential tools, strategies, and actual lessons learned (the good, the bad, and some ugly) from industry. The 10 areas are:

– Project integration

– Scope management

– Time management

– Cost management

– Quality management

– Human Resources

– Communications

– Risk management

– Procurement

– Stakeholder management

If you have realized that the soft skills and nontechnical aspects of commercial drones are the sources of your biggest challenges, you will gain a lot from this course. Whether you are a one-person operation trying to manage a business yourself or you are building a drone operation for your organization, you will leave with a comprehensive introduction into the fundamentals of planning and executing this effort as a viable project. Those with a Project Management Professional certification (PMP) will receive 1.0 PDU for attending.