It is the time on the calendar in which we naturally start to look back at the year that was, taking stock of what has changed – and sometimes what has not – over the past 12 months before taking a look ahead at what lies ahead in the year to come. That’s what we’re going to be doing here at Commercial UAV News over the next week and a half before we take a recharge break over the holidays. And there’s no doubt that it has been a big year for the commercial drone industry here in the U.S. and across the globe. Technology has continued to evolve, verticals like delivery have gone from futuristic idea to providing tangible value, and regulations around BVLOS operations and foreign-manufactured drones have both delivered and frustrated the industry.

Today, in looking back at what 2025 brought for Commercial UAV News, we’re going to look back at the webinars we have put on throughout the year. This is one of the core tenets of our website, taking the great conversations and thought leadership on display at our in-person events, Commercial UAV Expo and Commercial UAV Forum, and taking them to a digital platform. Over the course of the year, we hosted 15 webinars including both editorial-driven discussions that we moderated as well as sponsored discussions from partners around the industry, covering a wide range of topics.

As one would likely expect, and as was alluded to above, one of the major topics of discussion on our webinars through the year was the regulatory landscape. Part of that was driven by the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for BVLOS operations, or Part 108, released by the FAA in August. This was a much-anticipated release, and while it does not represent the final rule – that is expected at some point in 2026 – it gave a critical look at how the government is thinking about the future of these operations. We covered this area early in the year before the release of the NPRM with How Are Nationwide BVLOS Waivers Transforming Drone Operations in 2025, as well as following the release of the NPRM in Inside the Part 108 NPRM: Industry Reactions, Predictions, and Impacts.

With the help of the aforementioned industry leaders who sponsored conversations on Commercial UAV News webinars, these discussions also touched on a range of new technological developments that are helping to re-shape commercial operations. On the manufacturers’ side, Made in America: Redefining UAV Production with Additive Manufacturing touched on how 3D printing is helping to scale U.S.-based production of UAVs. YellowScan Voyager: 400ft and Beyond, meanwhile, looked at the latest in airborne lidar from YellowScan, and UAS Beyond Imagery: Exploring the Evolving Capabilities of Spray Drone Technology dove into the evolution of spray drone technology for the agricultural sector. Finally, How IONA Reaches the Last Mile Through Smart Product Development looked at how IONA drones has worked to advance last-mile delivery.

And of course, the overarching view of industry trends and future outlook hung over every single conversation throughout the year on Commercial UAV News webinars. Some of those conversations were focused on specific roles in the industry, like The Changing Role of Drone Pilots and Maximizing Uncrewed Systems for Surveying in 2025. We also had some focus specifically on the European continent with What’s Now and What’s Next for the Drone Market in Europe? and Navigating ROI, Regulation, and Recruitment: The Business of Drones in Europe. And following a highly successful Commercial UAV Expo 2025, we hosted Beyond the Conference: Where Commercial UAV Technology is Headed, which touched on some of the major trends that attendees came away with after the week in Las Vegas.

Each of these webinars is roughly 60 minutes long and holds many more insights than could be accurately relayed in this kind of article. The good news? Anyone interested is able to get a free, on-demand recording by following the link for the individual webinar found at the page listed below and filling out the quick registration form. Where applicable, the on-demand recording also includes access to the slides shown during the presentation. If you’re looking for the best way to catch up on the year that was for our industry, these webinars are a phenomenal starting point.

Register Here