DroneTalks.online

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150

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May 2026

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About the show

In the DroneTalks c-level series podcast we discuss technology, regulatory, business and ecosystem topics openly with industry leaders to enable and foster innovation for a better future. Our short, impactful interviews provide you with C-level perspectives from leading companies in the drone industry including NASA, Wing, DJI, Skyward and more. Our mission: to inform, to educate and to drive social acceptance in the drone ecosystem! Are you doing something amazing in the Drone ecosystem? Get involved! Go to www.dronetalks.online to find out more, or contact us at info@dronetalks.online.

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60 recent

May 11, 20261 hr 1 min

Higher-Altitude Platform Systems and airspace integration: from concept to operational reality

“The main gap is the uncertainty, the lack of collaboration, and the lack of harmonization. I could better say it's like we are starting from zero which is each one of the entities.” In our recent webinar, Marta García Gutiérrez, UAS Programme Manager at Telespazio Ibérica, highlighted a key challenge: #HAPS operations still lack a common baseline, with stakeholders effectively starting from zero, making harmonisation and adoption difficult. HAPS are already operational, but integration remains constrained by fragmentation and uncertainty.This insight comes from a DroneTalks and CANSO webinar on Higher-Altitude Platform Systems and Airspace Integration, exploring their integration into existing airspace and its implications for regulation, operations and coordination. The session was moderated by Lorenzo Murzilli, Co-founder and CEO of Murzilli Consulting, and brought together Nicki Harricharan, Operations Programme Manager at CANSO, Léonard Bouygues, Director of Aviation Strategy at Sceye, Marta García Gutiérrez, UAS Programme Manager at Telespazio Ibérica and Jesús Antonio García Muñoz, Head of ATFCM/ASM Division and Air Traffic Controller at ENAIRE. The discussion also addressed key integration challenges, including: - Airspace integration between stratospheric and conventional operations- Traffic management and cross-layer coordination- Regulatory frameworks and certification pathways- The evolving role of ANSPs in managing higher-altitude operations- Implications for drone operations and future advanced air mobility ecosystems Are you a decision-maker? Are you interested in being at the forefront of drone technology? Sponsor our exclusive, invite-only event Aerial Cities, where industry leaders, government officials, and key players discuss the integration of drones into urban landscapes.Check out our sponsorship opportunities here: https://aerialcities.dronetalks.online/

May 4, 202611 min

DroneTalks | Q&A with Nicki Harricharan, Operations Programme Manager at CANSO | Airspace Word 2026

Ahead of Airspace World 2026 in Lisbon (26-28 May 2026), DroneTalks CEO, Eszter Kovács sat down with Nicki Harricharan, Operations Programme Manager at CANSO.The conversation explored how air traffic management is adapting to increasingly complex and interconnected airspace, and what practical system-level integration looks like for regulators, ANSPs, and the broader industry.Key topics include:• The integration of new entrants into shared airspace • Moving from siloed operations to ecosystem-wide coordination • Digitalisation enablers such as SWIM, FF-ICE, and Trajectory-Based Operations (TBO) • Cross-border collaboration and global interoperability • Trust and information sharing as operational foundations • The shift from reactive to predictive, data-driven decision-makingReserve your place at the CANSO Airspace World 2026 in Lisbon and take part in these discussions: https://aswreg.jemexonline.com/

May 4, 202641 min

DroneTalks | Navigating Urban Skies and Aerial Cities: Emerging Trends and Evolutions | Aerial Cities 2025

Our kick-off panel at Aerial Cities 2025 set the perfect tone for our C-level, invite-only event where industry experts discussed the future of #drones and #UrbanAirMobility, and all its nuances. Held inside Dublin’s historic City Hall, our first panellists at last year’s #AerialCities discussed Navigating Urban Skies and Aerial Cities: Emerging Trends and Evolutions.Moderated by Lorenzo Murzilli, Co-founder and CEO of Murzilli Consulting, the conversation featured:• Thomas Curran, Head of Survey & Mapping, Dublin City Council• Enda Walsh, UAS Manager, Irish Aviation Authority• Magdalena Szymańska, Deputy Manager of the Active Mobility Unit, Municipal Transport Authority, Gdańsk• Natale Di Rubbo, Drone Project Manager, EASATogether, they offered one of the clearest snapshots yet of how Europe is progressing on airspace integration, public acceptance, and regulatory readiness for BVLOS drone operations.Key insights from the session:• Europe’s biggest bottleneck remains air risk. While SORA’s ground risk is settled, scalable Detect‑and‑Avoid capabilities are still missing.• The #EASA is shifting toward practical enablement, collecting best practices and rolling out tools like digital eSORA to simplify approvals.• Ireland’s new National Policy Framework shows a major step toward structured U‑Space deployment and the scaling of BVLOS drone operations.• Cities like Dublin and Gdańsk are actively preparing staff, engaging residents, mapping use cases, and integrating drones into daily operations.• Public acceptance is now, more than ever, a core enabler.If you want to be part of Aerial Cities 2026, click here for speaking, attendance and sponsorship options: https://aerialcities.dronetalks.online/

February 16, 20269 min

DroneTalks | Scaling #BVLOS drone operations: How uAvionix is powering the next era of connected #airspace | Aerial Cities 2025

“Assuming that if you have one business, you deploy your infrastructure, and if I have another one in the same city, I deploy mine, that is untenable. Scaling fast requires shared infrastructure.” At Aerial Cities 2025 in Dublin, Thomas Jimenez (VP of UAS at uAvionix) spoke with Richard Boden (Acting COO at Murzilli Consulting) about the reality of commercializing the #drone industry. The consensus? We need a "one connected picture" to move past experimental waivers. Key takeaways from the #interview: The shift toward Part 108 and the #ADSP (Automated Data Service Provider) framework is the only viable path to #scalable BVLOS drone #oparations. High-integrity data shouldn't be a solo investment. By partnering with utilities and #airports to host FlightStation sensors, uAvionix provides a "Data Stack" that lets operators focus on missions, not #hardware deployment. The same tech currently powering the FAA’s Surface Awareness Initiative (SAI) is being repurposed to give #UAS operators low-latency, aviation-grade situational awareness. Scaling the airspace isn't about flying more drones; it’s about the infrastructure that connects them.Listen the full interview to see how uAvionix is building the certifiable future of #AAM.

February 16, 20267 min

DroneTalks | Glen Lynch on Volatus’ $9B defense pivot and the "Many-to-One" #BVLOS #drone operation’s future | Aerial Cities 2025

‘We don’t chase what we would like to do; we chase the combination of what the technology allows and what the regulation enables today." — Glen Lynch, CEO of #Volatus Aerospace. At our annual, invitation-only, C-level event, Aerial Cities 2025 in Dublin, the conversation moved past "#drone hype" into the hard reality of sovereign defense and unit economics. In an exclusive interview with Marta Shavgulidze of ‪@murzilliconsulting‬, Glen Lynch revealed how Volatus is transforming into a cornerstone of #Canada’s industrial base. Highlights from the interview: With 75% of every Canadian #defense dollar currently leaving the country, Volatus is "repatriating" spend through its new 200,000 sq. ft. Hub. Mission Volatus has cracked the code on labor costs. By moving from a 2:1 pilot-to-drone ratio to 1:5, they are delivering a staggering 70% reduction in field personnel costs. While Canada is the primary focus, Volatus targeted Africa, SE Asia and USA as critical markets With $10.6M+ quarterly revenue and a $9M #NATO contract on the horizon for Q1 2026, Volatus is proving that "practical visionaries" win the race. Listen the full interview for the definitive 24-month roadmap of Volatus Aerospace. Are you interested in being at the forefront of drone technology? Sponsor our exclusive, invite-only event Aerial Cities, where industry leaders, government officials, and key players discuss the integration of drones into urban landscapes: https://aerialcities.dronetalks.online/

February 16, 202614 min

DroneTalks | The ROI of redundancy and why satellite connectivity is the key to scaling BVLOS drone operations | Aerial Cities 2025

Is your #BVLOS strategy still "cellular-only"? You might be missing the 70% #ROI shift according to Alastair MacLeod. In the #drone and #AAM industry, "hope" is not a communication strategy. At #AerialCities2025, Thilo Uebbert, Manager of Project and Programme Management at Murzilli Consulting sat down with Ground Control CEO Alastair MacLeod who highlighted one main thing for fleet operators: #Satellite #data costs have plummeted by 70-80% over the last decade, turning #SATCOM from a "luxury backup" into a "primary mission-enabler." According to him, as we look toward 2026, the scaling of #drone delivery and industrial inspection hinges on one thing, surety of #communication. Key discussion points in our exclusive, C-level # interview: Why "RadioShack" terminals are killing your #payload, and why purpose-built PCBA integration is the only way to #scale. Why 5G-Satellite convergence is still 5 years away, and what you should be engineering for today. How the merger of Ground Control and CLS is creating a unified ecosystem for global #UAV tracking and #C2. Are you interested in being at the forefront of drone technology? Sponsor our exclusive, invite-only event Aerial Cities, where industry leaders, government officials, and key players discuss the integration of drones into urban landscapes. Find more information about our sponsorship opportunities on our website: https://aerialcities.dronetalks.online/

February 16, 202644 min

DroneTalks | Enabling BVLOS drone operations at scale | Aerial Cities 2024

In 1849, the Austrian Navy launched a 6.5-kilometre #BVLOS drone strike using unmanned hot air balloons. It failed; not for lack of ambition, but due to a lack of data and control systems. 175 years later, those same gaps persist. "The biggest business opportunity in drone delivery is data," said Thomas Neubauer, Co-Founder and CEO of Dimetor, at Aerial Cities 2024. In this panel from our C-level, invitation-only event, leaders from across Europe shared how #BVLOS drone operations are technically ready, but still struggling to scale due to fragmented infrastructure, lack of trusted data, and unclear business models. From AI-powered #regulatory platforms to real-time telecom-based risk assessments, the ecosystem is evolving. And yet, success will depend on shared #standards, digital transformation, and cross-sector collaboration. Key insights from the panel discussion: ➡️️ Real-time #infrastructure is now a prerequisite for safe BVLOS #drone operations ➡️ #Regulation is becoming an enabler, not a blocker, when guided by digital tools ➡️ Business models must catch up with #technology to justify scale investments Moderated by Dr. Christoph Selig, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer at Unisphere GmbH, the conversation brought together Thomas Neubauer, Co-Founder and CEO of Dimetor; Andrew Carter, Co-Founder and CEO of ResilienX; Thomas Jimenez, Market Director for UAS/AAM at Kongsberg Geospatial; and Giovanni Di Antonio, FRAeS, Director of Technological Innovation at ENAC - Ente Nazionale per l'Aviazione Civile, Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority. Listen the full session recap to see how #Europe is turning digital infrastructure, regulatory innovation, and cross-industry collaboration into the foundation for BVLOS at #scale.

February 16, 20267 min

DroneTalks | Over 6,000 BVLOS flights: How NUAIR’s operational corridor is enabling scalable drone integration

6,000+ #BVLOS flights. 50 miles of FAA-designated #UAS corridor. A 450-square-mile digital #airspace ecosystem. At Syracuse Airport, NUAIR proves that manned and unmanned aircraft can co-exist safely in one of the most complex airspaces in the US: “If someone’s operating without remote ID in a critical area such as the terminal area of the airport, we can see their location, the hand controller and the drone — and tell local authorities that something needs to be done about it,” said John Gustafson, Director of Product Development and Technology at NUAIR. NUAIR isn’t just visualising airspace; they’re enforcing it. With radar-powered #surveillance, passive RF detection, and a fully cloud-based interface; they’re making scalable, safe BVLOS #drone operations a reality in the US today. At CANSO's Airspace World 2025 in Lisbon, our Co-founder and CEO Eszter Kovács interviewed NUAIR's John Gustafson to explore how their FAA-approved infrastructure is redefining drone #commercialisation in New York State and beyond. Listen the full interview to learn how NUAIR is powering medical deliveries, military testing, and impactful #UTM services through a real-world drone corridor.

February 16, 202659 min

DroneTalks | Airspace modernisation and the governance layers challenge | Aerial Cities 2024

200+ stakeholders consulted, €20M invested, 2,100 municipalities engaged: Europe’s #regulators are modernising #airspace one project at a time. At Aerial Cities 2024, leaders from across Europe shared how project-based governance is cutting through complexity and enabling real-world drone and advanced air mobility (#AAM) operations. From Zurich’s €4M #Uspace corridor launch to Berlin’s certified medical #drone deliveries to Fuerteventura’s €20M #stratoport investment, panellists shared concrete examples of how coordinated governance is driving real progress; even in complex environments. Key insights from the panel discussion: ➡️ Cross-sector pilot projects are becoming the new governance framework. Projects, not policies, are driving #integration. ➡️ Communication gaps are still slowing deployment. Regulators and technology leaders must learn to “speak the same language” to #scale. ➡️ Progress is tangible. Europe’s regulators are shifting from gatekeepers to enablers and embedding lessons from sandboxes into long-term #frameworks. Moderated by Lorenzo Murzilli (Co-founder & CEO, Murzilli Consulting), this panel featured expert insights from Paul Kennedy (Head of Aviation Infrastructure, Irish Aviation Authority), Marielies Becker (Senior Manager for Innovation Aerospace, Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH), Larissa Haas (UAS Policy Coordinator, Strategy and Innovation Unit, Federal Office of Civil Aviation Switzerland FOCA), Colin Chesterton (Challenge Lead, UK Civil Aviation Authority), and Sergio David Díaz Martínez (Aerospace Engineer, Parque Tecnológico Fuerteventura).

July 11, 202549 min

eVTOL and AAM - A Step Closer to Reality | Aerial Cities 2024

At Aerial Cities 2024, this panel offered a clear-eyed view of where the #eVTOL and #AAM industries truly stand. Key takeaways from the session: ➡️ Passenger trust is the real design challenge. From “a product my mother wants to fly in” (CRISALION) to full-scale test demonstrators (Supernal), the focus is shifting from prototypes to public-ready aircraft. ➡️ Infrastructure may be the biggest bottleneck. “You’re talking $25 million to build a vertiport,” (Bristow Group) — and there are no zoning codes in place yet. ➡️ #Regulation is moving fast — but not evenly. The UK, EU, and US are aligning slowly, while China is already certifying autonomous vehicles. That divergence could reshape the global market. ➡️ #Airspace strategies vary dramatically. The UK is going fully integrated, while Spain is testing U-space corridors. Harmonisation is still a work in progress. ➡️ Coexistence, not disruption, will define the 2030s. Future skies will blend eVTOLs, #drones, and traditional #aviation — and success will depend on collaboration, not competition. Moderated by Darryl Abelscroft (Future of Flight, ‪UKCAA‬ ), this panel featured expert insights from David Stepanek, FRAeS (Executive Vice President & Chief Transformation Officer, Bristow Group), Mark Watson (Head of UTM Service Integration, NATS), Manuel Heredia Ortiz (Former CEO, CRISALION), Diana Marina Cooper (Chief Partnerships & Policy Officer, Supernal), and Daniel García-Monteavaro (Head of Drone Business Development Department, ENAIRE) — in one of the most grounded, real-world conversations of the event. Read the full session recap now: 👉 https://dronetalks.online/evtol-aam-a...#advancedairmobility #AerialCities #airspacemanagement #aviationregulation #collaboration #droneevents #droneindustry #infrastructure #MRO #UAM #urbanairmobility #UAV #Uspace