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By Edward Pearcey
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As drone shows become larger and more complex, and continue to redefine outdoor events, regulators and operators face a new question: can safety standards keep pace?
According to Christian Ilumin, the founder of Illumin Drone Shows, there is an "absolute" need to introduce a more regulated safety and maintenance framework for drone shows, and build on the existing architecture.
"Regulation has to keep pace with the technology," Ilumin told Newsweek. "You need to do this if you want to protect the public and the airspace without restricting the innovation that’s making this industry so interesting."
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Fleets of drones are turning night skies into programmable screens, transforming concerts, festivals, and brand events into spectacles. One 2026 market report projects that the global drone-light-show market will grow from $7.44 billion in 2025 to $9.05 billion in 2026—a 21.7 percent increase—and reach $20.37 billion by 2030.
"We’re still underestimating the potential size of the industry," said Ilumin. "The mistake is thinking the future of this industry is simply about replacing fireworks. The bigger opportunity is that we can now turn the sky itself into a creative platform.
"The technology is critical to where this goes next," he added. "Better aircraft, software and systems keep expanding what’s possible creatively and operationally.
"Scale will always be exciting, but drone count alone won’t define this industry. A thousand drones with nothing to say are just a thousand lights in the sky."
Keeping People Safe
In the U.S., Illumin’s operations are subject to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules, including Part 107. The company holds a waiver allowing one remote pilot to operate multiple drones and for certain night operations; separate airspace authorization may also be required.
In Canada, Illumin’s operations are subject to Transport Canada’s rules for remotely piloted aircraft systems. Drone shows are treated as special aviation events and require a Special Flight Operations Certificate.
The regulatory architecture is becoming more sophisticated precisely as audiences are becoming accustomed to seeing hundreds of aircraft moving overhead, in often highly elaborate displays.
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The industry’s challenge, then, is whether operators can build a safety culture capable of supporting an entertainment business that is increasingly moving into crowded public environments.
Authorities generally treat large-scale drone shows as aviation operations. Depending on the jurisdiction and authorization, operators may be required to use certified pilots, establish and monitor safety zones, maintain specified separation from spectators and demonstrate contingency procedures.
An FAA spokesperson told Newsweek that safety "is always the FAA’s top priority" and that drone arrays and light shows are regulated by the agency. Such events generally require a waiver from the rule prohibiting one pilot from operating multiple drones simultaneously.
The agency said its review considers factors including drone software, contingency plans for the failure of one or more aircraft, and how operators use geofencing to keep drones within a defined area.
More Work Needed To Regulate Fleets
"Where there’s still work to be done is creating more consistency around standards for large, coordinated fleets," said Ilumin. "There’s a big difference between flying a single drone and operating hundreds or thousands of aircraft together."
"At that scale, you’re managing an entire system," Ilumin added. "Fleet condition, batteries, communications, positioning, software, weather, airspace and the safety of people on the ground all come into play."
"I came into this from commercial aviation, so I probably look at some of this differently. Safety isn’t a box you check because a regulator requires it: it has to be part of the culture of the company," he added.
"My aviation background definitely influences how I look at this. Commercial aviation has spent decades building a culture around recurrent training, procedures and learning from previous operations. We don’t need to copy commercial aviation, but there’s a lot we can learn from it."
**‘**Aviation First, Entertainment Second’
FlightShows, a U.K.-based drone light show company specializing in immersive performances, told Newsweek that drone shows "need to be treated as aviation first and entertainment second."
"Regulation is only one part of it. The operator must apply those standards properly every single time they fly."
Currently, there isn’t a single global regulator for drone shows, said Ilumin, "And I’m not sure there needs to be."
"Aviation is regulated nationally, but I do think there’s value in getting closer to common standards and best practices internationally," he added.
Standards organization ASTM International currently has work underway on a proposed standard specifically for multi-aircraft drone show operations, explicitly citing the industry’s rapid growth and the need for baseline requirements covering navigation, geofencing, communications, and operational safety, which Ilumin said was a positive step.
"The FAA and Transport Canada have different regulatory structures," added Ilumin.
But once you’re on the ground preparing a show, many of the questions are the same: How has the fleet been maintained? What happens if you lose communications or positioning? What are the weather limits? How are the aircraft contained? How are you protecting the audience?
The U.K.’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) told Newsweek that international alignment on the regulation of new technology "is always a good thing, and the CAA actively engages with international partners to support the safe, secure, and proportionate rollout of drone use."
More Specialized Insurance?
Even though the aviation insurance market already covers drone operations, including drone shows, Ilumin said we’re likely to see insurers becoming more specialized as they build more experience in the industry.
"They’ll get better at distinguishing between operators and understanding the actual risk," he added. "And that should ultimately benefit professional operators who invest properly in their people, equipment and procedures.
"An insurance policy doesn’t make you safe. The operation does."
ASTM International’s working group will eventually produce a first draft of a standards practice for the drone show technology, including requirements to support manufacturers and operators of outdoor events.
"Standards are important, but they also need to be informed by people who have actually managed large fleets in real-world environments," said Ilumin, whose company was a 2025 finalist in Canada’s Got Talent.
"Raise the standard of the industry, absolutely, but leave enough room for the technology and the creative side of it to keep moving forward."
Through the Lens of Aviation
Ilumin has approached that problem through a distinctly aviation-minded lens. He said he spent roughly 25 years working in commercial aviation before founding Illumin Drone Shows, which he built around operating principles learned from the airline industry.
Risk management begins well before show day. Ilumin identifies interference as one of the most significant operational risks, particularly at unfamiliar venues. Site assessments and advance testing can allow an operator to identify potential problems before an audience and event infrastructure make changes difficult.
The same principle applies to the audience boundary. At events, Ilumin pushes organizers to move spectators further from the required safety zone, despite potential resistance because the change could consume event space.
The company’s pilots undergo training and refreshers, with procedures documented through checklists and a safety management system. His chief pilot has a military aviation background, reinforcing the operational discipline Ilumin considers essential as drone fleets grow.
The next phase may force the industry to mature, said Ilumin. As industry groups develop proposed standards and national regulators refine their requirements, he expects consolidation and more strategic partnerships.
Contact Newsweek editor on this story: Mike Hirst.
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