After years of anticipation and industry advocacy, the U.S. is finally seeing movement on a federal rule that could transform commercial drone operations: the Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) rule. This long-awaited regulation aims to allow drones to fly beyond the operator’s direct line of sight without the need for individual waivers, unlocking large-scale applications such as drone delivery, emergency response, and infrastructure inspection.
Why BVLOS Rules Matter
BVLOS capability is widely recognized as the “holy grail” for the drone industry. Current regulations require operators to keep drones within visual line of sight, limiting their range and usefulness. For commercial sectors, this restriction means that ambitious projects-such as delivering medical supplies to remote communities, inspecting long stretches of pipeline or power lines, and deploying drones as first responders-are either impossible or require time-consuming, case-by-case FAA approvals.
Industry leaders and organizations like the Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) have stressed that standardized BVLOS rules are essential for the U.S. to compete globally, especially as countries like China rapidly advance their own drone industries. “Outdated regulations and regulatory paralysis threaten America’s security and aviation leadership,” said CDA CEO Lisa Ellman, emphasizing that the new rules would “unlock the real benefits of safe, secure, and scalable drone operations for the American people”.
Years of Delay-and Renewed Momentum
The path to a BVLOS rule has been slow. The FAA first convened a special advisory committee in 2021 to develop recommendations, and a comprehensive report was delivered in 2022. Despite legislative pushes, including a mandate in the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act for a proposed rule by September 2024, deadlines have repeatedly slipped. As of early 2025, the industry is still waiting for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the first formal step in the federal rulemaking process.
However, there is fresh momentum. On May 14, 2025, the Trump Administration advanced the BVLOS rule to the White House for review, a critical step before the NPRM can be published. The CDA and other industry stakeholders applauded this move as a sign of renewed federal commitment. FAA officials have reiterated their goal to publish the NPRM by the end of 2024 and finalize the rule by January 2026, as required by Congress.
What Happens Next: The Rulemaking Process
The process for enacting the BVLOS rule includes several key steps:
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Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM): The FAA will publish a draft of the proposed BVLOS rule, outlining requirements and standards for operators. This is expected by the end of 2024.
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Public Comment Period: Once the NPRM is published, there will be a period (typically 30–90 days) for the public, industry, and other stakeholders to submit feedback.
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Evaluation of Comments: The FAA will review all comments, consider suggested changes, and make revisions to the proposed rule. This process can take several months, depending on the volume and complexity of feedback.
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Final Rule Publication: After revisions, the FAA will publish the final BVLOS rule. The current target for this milestone is January 2026.
What Will the BVLOS Rule Look Like?
While the exact details are still under wraps, the rule is expected to draw heavily from the recommendations of the BVLOS Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). The ARC suggested a single set of regulations for all BVLOS operations, aiming for clarity and scalability across different use cases. The FAA is also considering a two-pathway system: streamlined permits for lower-risk operations and certificates for large-scale or more complex missions.
What’s at Stake
The stakes are high. Without BVLOS rules, the U.S. risks falling behind in drone technology and losing out on economic growth and job creation. With the rules in place, experts predict a surge in investment, innovation, and new services that could benefit industries from healthcare to energy to public safety.
As the regulatory process moves forward, industry leaders urge all stakeholders to participate in the public comment period to help shape a rule that is safe, effective, and future-ready.
“This is a crucial milestone to finally right-sizing the low altitude airspace for commercial drone activity,” said CDA Policy Director Liz Forro. “This action will spur much-needed investment in our domestic drone industrial base and relieve the regulatory paralysis that has crippled the U.S. from leading in advanced aviation technology to date.”
The advancement of the BVLOS rulemaking process marks a pivotal moment for the U.S. commercial drone industry. While delays have been frustrating, recent progress signals hope that scalable, safe, and innovative drone operations are within reach. The next steps-publication of the NPRM, public input, and final rulemaking will determine how quickly the U.S. can unlock the full potential of commercial drones.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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