The drone industry teeters on the cusp of significant breakthroughs, yet lingering bureaucratic obstacles imperil its momentum. The proposed rule for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, currently under review by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), holds the key to unlocking the scalability of critical drone applications once implemented. Despite looming deadlines, industry leaders are emphasizing the pressing need to finalize and release the regulation before potential political changes may occur in early 2025.
The Significance of BVLOS Laws
Beyond Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations allow drones to perform complex tasks at extended ranges without needing real-time visual monitoring by an operator. These capabilities are crucial for functions comparable to infrastructure inspections, agricultural monitoring, and catastrophe response, enabling efficient and effective management of critical operations. The long-awaited drone rule, also referred to as Part 108, has finally emerged following the release of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) March 2022 Aviation Rulemaking Committee report?
At present, navigating complex and time-consuming approval processes for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights hinders trade development, posing significant limitations. Michael Robbins, President and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), and Lisa Ellman, Executive Director of the Drone Trade Alliance (CDA), insist that this status quo “isn’t sustainable.” They argue strongly that a streamlined regulatory framework is crucial for scaling drone operations and realizing their full economic and societal potential.
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“Safely extending drone operations beyond the direct visual line of sight allows for more complex and cost-efficient applications that can cover greater distances and reach a wider community.”
Challenges and Deadlines
Despite Congressional direction to rescind the BVLOS rule by September 16, 2024, the deadline has passed without any action taken. The FAA has committed to releasing the draft regulation by either late 2024 or early January 2025. Robbins and Ellman caution that further delays could jeopardize momentum, particularly as a presidential transition looms in January 2025. The sudden shift could precipitate a protracted regulatory hiatus, potentially spanning months or even years.
As the process reaches its current milestone, the pivotal moment is the initiation of forward momentum and the release of a preliminary guideline, which holds the greatest significance. “Perfection should never compromise quality.” It’s only a draft rule.”
As soon as finalized, the draft rule will undergo meticulous scrutiny and revision, ensuring that stakeholders’ input is incorporated to strike a harmonious balance between security and innovation?
The Position of Business Advocacy
AUVSI and CDA have played a pivotal role in molding U.S. Drone laws, coupled with the core principles of Part 107, form a robust regulatory framework for recreational and commercial drone operations in the United States. Stakeholders in the trade community are advised by regulators to refrain from scheduling individual meetings with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) at the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB)? The goal of this method is to streamline the interagency review process and ensure that the draft rule is ready for publication in a timely manner.
“Respectfully, we request that individual member corporations refrain from scheduling meetings with OIRA regarding the draft security rule, allowing OIRA to expedite its process.”
Associations are committed to vigorously advocating for the industry’s perspectives at their forthcoming conferences with OIRA.
Unlocking the Business’s Potential
The timely implementation of regulations governing beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations is crucial for the drone industry to achieve its anticipated financial growth and unlock its full potential. Research estimates that drones will add billions of dollars to the U.S. economy. By the end of the next decade, the economic potential of drone technology remains largely unrealized due to the absence of regulations governing beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations.
“The drone industry is poised to enter a transformative era,” Robbins and Ellman noted. The timely release of a draft rule for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations will unlock the vast potential for scaling up high-stakes missions like drone-based delivery services, precision agriculture monitoring, critical infrastructure assessments, and enhanced public safety initiatives.
As federal agencies, Congress, and the White House consider these crucial steps, trade advocates emphasize that prompt action is imperative. “The future trajectory of America’s drone industry hinges on swift action,” Robbins and Ellman emphasized.
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