MFE to Host Field Trials for NDAA-Compliant Drone Systems in Real Inspection Environments

Houston, TX, March 18, 2026—Next month, MFE Inspection Solutions will host an event designed to help industrial teams evaluate NDAA-compliant drone systems from leading manufacturers including Skydio, Freefly, Teledyne FLIR, WISPR Systems, and RT Robotics in real-world inspection scenarios. Called MFE Field Trials, the in-person event is designed for industrial inspection teams, reliability leaders, and drone program managers, providing a unique opportunity to evaluate compliant drone platforms in a practical field setting.

“This is a moment of major change for professional drone programs,” said Dylan Duke, CEO of MFE Inspection Solutions. “We’re seeing more industrial teams investigating alternatives to DJI and considering NDAA-compliant platforms, and they need more than just spec sheets or trade show conversations. We made MFE Field Trials to give industrial operators a way to see these systems in action, speak directly to manufacturers, and evaluate them in a setting that reflects how they’ll actually be used.”

MFE Field Trials is the first event of its kind, bringing NDAA-compliant drone manufacturers together for live evaluations in real industrial scenarios. The timing reflects a broader shift in the industrial drone market, as regulatory changes drive interest in NDAA-compliant platforms and organizations reassess how they source their drone fleets.

Unlike a traditional trade show, MFE Field Trials is structured as a working evaluation day for prospective buyers from oil and gas and other heavy industries. Attendees will be able to watch inspection flights on a live glycol unit, explore free-fly zones during evaluation periods, and speak directly with OEM representatives and MFE specialists about platform capabilities, payloads, and deployment considerations.

“This event is meant to help teams make better decisions, faster,” said Cody Menchaca, Director of UAS Sales & Operations. “Industrial operators are under pressure to evaluate compliant alternatives, but most haven’t had the chance to compare multiple systems side by side in a real-world environment. MFE Field Trials gives them that opportunity in a format built around evaluation rather than trade show browsing.”

MFE Field Trials will take place at the San Jacinto College Center for Petrochemical, Energy & Technology in Pasadena, Texas on Friday, April 17 from 10:00 AM-5:00 PM. Admission is free, but space is limited and registration is encouraged.

Learn more and register for MFE Field Trials.