Experts Share Visions of the Next Generation of Airspace

Oct. 15, 2025

At the 2025 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) Flight Deck, experts building the next generation of aircraft shared their visions for the future of airspace. The development of new vertical lift aircraft and autonomous capabilities mean streamlined door-to-door travel in urban areas has never been closer.

Susan Karlin, reporter of space science and autonomous vehicles at Fast Company, led a panel of emerging technology experts in describing aviation in 10 years, addressing regulatory hurdles and maintaining US leadership in emerging technologies.

10-Year Horizon

Will Wheeler, principal of UAS at Southern Company, said, “Our company’s goal is to have complete autonomous aircraft coverage of our system to survey the network,” adding that storm response is a key function for autonomous aircraft, as are routine patrol flights and preventive maintenance functions.

Skyryse Founder and CEO Mark Groden has a different focus, which is to put the human more in control of the aircraft with higher levels of automation and safety. “Even in the most automated machine we engaged with – the elevator – you’re still in control of the machine,” he said.

Groden believes there isn’t a significant need for full autonomy with no human operating the aircraft, but rather that advancing automation means more people can become pilots more easily and conduct flights safely.

The experts generally agreed full autonomy will begin in the air cargo space.

Scott Drennan, president and CEO of Otto Aviation, is focused on improving sustainability and efficiency in the next 10 years.

“We need more sustainable aircraft that also change the economics around business aviation,” he said. Otto operators will experience increased efficiency in maintenance cycles by utilizing data off the aircraft.

Regulatory Environment and Hurdles

“Aviation is traditionally not an industry that moves quickly, largely due to the level of regulations required,” said Jon Damush, president and CEO of uAvionix Corp. “On the technology side, you’re going to see massive changes because the pace of technology changes every day. We will see incredible things behind the scenes that will make aviation safer.”

Damush pointed to the recent draft rule to expand drone capabilities, which was the result of an executive order that put a clear timeline on the proposed rule for beyond visual line of sight.

Related: NBAA Pushes FAA for Safety-Focused Approach to Proposed Drone Regulations

“Regulators are starting to see there are safety benefits, efficiency benefits and sustainability benefits to making changes for new technology,” Damush said, pointing to uAvionix’s simple, affordable resolution to ADS-B equipage requirements by working collaboratively with the FAA as an example.