US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has unveiled a new proposed rule to unleash American drone dominance, enhancing safety and speeding up deployment of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in national airspace. The Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) rule aims to integrate drones into the aviation system more efficiently.
Previously, operators needed individual waivers or exemptions to use drones without visual line of sight. This proposal eliminates these requirements, expanding drone use cases in industries such as manufacturing, farming, energy production, and filmmaking. Manufacturers, operators, and traffic-management services will be required to keep BVLOS drones safely separated from each other and manned aircraft.
The rule is part of Secretary Duffy’s innovation agenda, aiming to transform aviation with drone technology. “We’re making the future of our aviation a reality,” said Secretary Duffy. “This technology will fundamentally change how we interact with the world.”
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford notes that normalizing BVLOS flights is key to realizing drones’ societal and economic benefits. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is also involved in developing this rule.
The proposal includes updated requirements for operators, manufacturers, and traffic-management services, ensuring safety while enabling innovation. The comment period will be open for 60 days following publication, and the FAA encourages public submission of comments through the Federal Register.
Source: https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/trumps-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-unveils-rule-unleash-american-drone