The U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed revised regulations to implement President Trump’s Executive Order entitled “Unleashing American Drone Dominance.” The proposal would adjust the “Beyond Visual Line of Sight” (BVLOS) limits to aid in the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones into the national airspace system. The proposal would also update requirements for manufacturers, operators, and drone traffic-management services to keep BVLOS drones safely separated from each other and from manned aircraft.
The proposal would eliminate the requirement for drone operators to obtain individual waivers or exemptions to use drones outside their visual line of sight. Currently these waivers must be approved on a case-by-case basis, making the process cumbersome, noted Transportation Sean Duffy. “Our new rule will reform outdated regulations that were holding innovators back while also enhancing safety in our skies,” he said in a statement. “From drones delivering medicine to unmanned aircraft surveying crops, this technology will fundamentally change the way we interact with the world.”
By eliminating those waiver requirements for BVLOS operations, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said this proposal will significantly expand the use-case for drone technologies in areas such as manufacturing, farming, energy production, filmmaking, and the movement of products – including lifesaving medications.
“Normalizing BVLOS flights is key to realizing drones’ societal and economic benefits,” he added. “Package delivery, agriculture, aerial surveying, public safety, recreation, and flight testing are just some of the uses we expect to see as we enable these innovative technologies while maintaining the safety of our National Airspace System.”