What the Drone Industry Is Actually Talking About in 2026 | Matt Collins

COMMERCIAL UAV EXPO 2026 — EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTUse code CARIBBEAN100 to save $100 on an Exhibit Hall Pass or Full Conference Pass.Register here (code pre-applied): https://www.xpressreg.net/register/UAVA0926/landing.php?sc=CARIBBEAN100Matt Collins has spent the last year learning the commercial drone industry from the inside — as the man who shapes the program at Commercial UAV Expo and runs editorial at Commercial UAV News. In this episode, he gives an unfiltered read on where the industry stands in 2026.We get into the real gap between AI marketing and actual field use, why the FCC Covered List's biggest threat is the hobbyist-to-professional pipeline, what the Part 108 NPRM got wrong, and why Caribbean drone operators are still missing from global industry data — and what to do about it.Matt also walks through what's new at Commercial UAV Expo 2026 (September 1-3, Las Vegas): roundtable sessions, the Level Up Lounge, a new focus on agriculture, and a state of the industry keynote with Pilot Institute's Greg Hughes.Tune in to discover how to get the Caribbean drone community into the global conversation — straight from someone who writes and edits that conversation daily.---CONNECT WITH MATT COLLINSLinkedIn: Search "Matt Collins Commercial UAV" on LinkedInWebsite / Event: https://www.expouav.comNews: https://commercialuavnews.comContact: [email protected] the Drone Pilot Checklist!The Pilots of the Caribbean Podcast recommends the Pilot Institute - Part 107 Made Easy course for anyone looking to prepare to sit the part 107 exam and become a licensed commercial drone operator.Website: https://pilotsofthecaribbeanpod.comEmail: [email protected] our links: https://linktr.ee/pilotsofthecaribbeanpod* Affiliate disclaimer: some of the above links maybe affiliate links, which may generate a sales commission.*