FAA Drops the Big BVLOS Proposal: What It Means for Drones

Grab your props, pilots—because the FAA just tossed a game-changing proposal into the air. And this one might actually stick the landing.

The long-awaited Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) is finally here, and it’s not just a tweak—it’s a complete airframe redesign of how drone flights will work in the U.S.

From Waivers to a Rulebook

Up until now, if you wanted to fly BVLOS, you had two options:

1. Dream about it.

2. Fill out paperwork the size of a Tolstoy novel, wait months, and maybe get a waiver.

The new NPRM flips that script. Instead of special one-off waivers, we’re talking about a rules-based framework. Translation: fewer bureaucratic headwinds, more real missions.

Enter Parts 108 & 146

The FAA’s proposal introduces two shiny new rule sections:

• Part 108 – Governing BVLOS operations themselves.

• Part 146 – Covering certification standards for UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems).

Think of these as the new lanes on the drone highway—wide enough for everything from package delivery drones to inspection bots to finally cruise without constant stop-and-go red tape.

Why This Matters

For drone businesses, this is basically the FAA handing over a golden propeller:

• Fewer waivers → more consistent operations.

• Normalized BVLOS → realistic pathways for scaling delivery, infrastructure inspection, agriculture, and emergency response.

• Rules over red tape → innovation without asking “Mother, may I?” every flight.

Or in simpler terms: less time on hold with the FAA, more time flying drones for actual missions.

The Catch (Because There’s Always One)

This is still a proposal. Meaning we’ve got months of public comments, industry feedback, and government back-and-forth before anything locks into law. So, don’t fire your Visual Observers just yet.

But make no mistake—this NPRM signals a huge shift. The FAA is finally ready to treat drones less like toys in the park and more like the workhorses of the modern sky.

Final Approach

For drone pilots, businesses, and sky dreamers alike, this is the most exciting BVLOS news in years. Whether you’re inspecting power lines, flying medical supplies, or mapping wetlands, the future just got a lot closer.

And hey, when the FAA clears the airways, you can bet Flying High in Florida will be there—props spinning, cameras rolling, and paperwork blessedly lighter.