Energy executives say drones will replace helicopters for inspections within a decade

The future of energy infrastructure inspections is tilting toward drones faster than the general public likely knows. At least so says the newly-released Energy Infrastructure Index 2025.

According to the survey respondents in the Energy Infrastructure Index 2025, 96% of senior North American energy executives believe UAVs will replace helicopters for infrastructure inspections within the next decade.

The report comes from SwissDrones, a company that does have some skin in the game given that SwissDrones builds long-range drones. Their drones are unique in that they’re uncrewed helicopters, rather than the tiny quadcopters that typically come to mind when you hear drone.

For an industry historically reliant on piloted aircraft to monitor pipelines, powerlines and other sprawling infrastructure, this represents a seismic shift.

(Photo courtesy of SwissDrones)

Energy executives fear preventable disasters are looming

The survey, conducted by Censuswide across 100 C-level executives in the U.S. and Canada, paints a grim picture of the energy grid’s future. 89% of leaders believe deteriorating infrastructure will lead to a major, preventable pipeline or powerline incident within the next 10 years.

The risk isn’t just hypothetical. Executives forecast cascading consequences for consumers:

87% expect the U.S. to see a dramatic increase in service interruptions in the next five years
92% believe decaying infrastructure will drive consumer price hikes over the next decade

“Extreme weather events are battering aging energy infrastructure across the continent and, as our data shows, energy executives say it is only a matter of time before an incident occurs,” wrote SwissDrones CEO Ulrich Amberg in the foreword of the report.

Climate change is raising the stakes for inspections

Aging powerlines and pipelines weren’t built to withstand today’s climate pressures. 96% of executives say that every major storm makes them worry about their company’s infrastructure holding up, and 87% admit the industry is still more reactive than proactive in dealing with these risks.

Executives overwhelmingly agree the industry must pivot toward anticipation, not reaction. When asked what steps should be taken, 62% called for adopting automated inspections and AI-powered data analysis, while 53% pushed for stricter infrastructure management regulations.

Labor shortages are slowing progress

Even as executives recognize the urgency, they struggle to inspect infrastructure frequently enough. The survey found:

69% say they cannot inspect frequently enough to keep up
93% admit thorough inspections that catch issues early are their greatest challenge
61% still rely exclusively on human labor for inspections

That reliance on human inspectors is increasingly untenable.

“Traditional methods are no longer cost-effective, safe, or sustainable enough for the next era of energy infrastructure expansion and maintenance,” Amberg wrote.

Accurate, timely data is essential to spotting minor issues before they become disasters — but energy companies say they lack the right tools. Executives report that their data is:

48% out of date
39% insufficient in quantity
38% not detailed enough
35% not accurate enough

Some leaders say they are overwhelmed by too much raw data, while others lack enough information altogether. Both extremes hinder preventative maintenance.

The environmental cost of helicopter inspections

Helicopters have long been the workhorse of energy inspections, but their environmental footprint is increasingly hard to justify. According to the report, 97% of executives are aware of the emissions impact of helicopter inspections, and 95% have already evaluated cleaner alternatives.

As part of their broader sustainability goals, 96% say reducing inspection-related emissions this year is a priority, with 98% reporting investments in environmentally friendly inspection technologies.

Still, executives acknowledge today’s standards aren’t strong enough: 72% believe current maintenance protocols won’t prevent significant environmental damage over the next decade.

UAVs offer safer, cleaner, and more scalable solutions

The consensus on UAVs is nearly unanimous. The report found that:

96% say UAVs are safer than helicopters
96% say UAVs are more environmentally friendly
97% say UAVs have additional use cases beyond inspections, including payload delivery

Despite this enthusiasm, adoption is lagging: only 44% of companies currently use UAVs. The biggest barrier? Regulations.

What regulations are needed for the drone industry — and what’s next

According to the report, 88% of executives cite regulatory hurdles as the primary barrier to scaling UAV adoption. Many companies are waiting for clearer rules around long-range flights before investing in drone programs.

That clarity may soon arrive. The FAA recently released its long-awaited Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, which would finally open the door for scaled, commercial long-range drone flights in the U.S. Up north, Transport Canada is working on similar guidance.

For energy executives, regulatory progress could be the tipping point. As the Energy Infrastructure Index concludes, UAVs are not just a future solution — they’re an urgent necessity.

The energy sector is facing challenges including aging infrastructure, labor shortages, data blind spots, and environmental pressures.

Executives are nearly unanimous in their belief that drones are safer, greener, and better equipped to handle the task than helicopters. With regulations finally catching up, the energy sector may soon rely on UAVs as its frontline defense against infrastructure failure.

You can read the full report here: Energy Infrastructure Index 2025.

Do you love reading industry trends and getting data around the drone industry? If you made it this far, the answer is yes!

To keep stories like this coming, please make a recurring donation to The Drone Girl! Use the button below or go through my PayPal to donate. Thank you!