Guide
Updated March 2026
Contents
BVLOS stands for Beyond Visual Line of Sight. It refers to drone operations where the pilot cannot see the aircraft with unaided eyes. Under current FAA rules, most commercial drone flights require the remote pilot to maintain visual contact with the aircraft at all times — a restriction known as VLOS (Visual Line of Sight).
BVLOS removes that restriction, allowing drones to fly miles or even hundreds of miles from the operator. This is the capability that unlocks the most valuable commercial applications of drone technology: long-range infrastructure inspection, corridor monitoring, package delivery, and large-area surveying.
The VLOS requirement is the single biggest constraint on commercial drone operations in the United States. It limits flight range to roughly 1,500–2,000 feet from the pilot, which means inspecting a 200-mile pipeline requires hundreds of individual flights, each with a pilot physically present at the launch site.
BVLOS changes the economics of drone operations by orders of magnitude. A single operator could monitor an entire corridor from a remote operations center, with drones launching and landing autonomously at pre-positioned stations along the route.
The global BVLOS market was valued at approximately $1.2–1.4 billion in 2024–2025 and is projected to grow at 20–26% annually.
14 CFR Part 107 is the FAA regulation that governs small unmanned aircraft systems (under 55 pounds) for commercial use. It took effect in August 2016 and requires VLOS by default.
Operators who want to fly BVLOS under Part 107 must apply for a waiver (Section 107.31). This is a case-by-case process that can take 90 days or more, with uncertain outcomes. Each waiver is specific to a location, operation type, and set of conditions. This approach does not scale.
Once Part 108 takes effect, BVLOS waiver applications will no longer be accepted under Part 107. All BVLOS operations will move to the new framework.
Part 108 is the FAA's purpose-built regulatory framework for BVLOS operations. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) was published on August 7, 2025, titled "Normalizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations."
The NPRM followed President Trump's Executive Order 14307, "Unleashing American Drone Dominance," issued on June 6, 2025, which directed the Department of Transportation to prioritize BVLOS as the first major UAS integration initiative.
The 60-day public comment period closed on October 6, 2025, receiving over 3,000 responses. A final rule is expected by spring 2026, with full implementation 6 to 12 months after publication.
Key Part 108 Requirements
Part 108 introduces a two-tier authorization system:
Operator Permit
Lower-risk, smaller-scale operations
Operator Certificate
Higher-risk, larger-scale operations
Detect-and-avoid is the technological replacement for the human pilot's ability to "see and avoid" other aircraft. Under Part 108, BVLOS drones must carry DAA systems capable of identifying and avoiding other aircraft and obstacles during flight.
DAA systems typically combine multiple sensor types: radar, ADS-B receivers, optical cameras, LIDAR, and acoustic sensors. The specific technology requirements will depend on the operational environment and risk level. The FAA has not mandated a specific technology solution, instead requiring performance-based outcomes.
Remote ID is the ability of a drone in flight to broadcast identification and location information — functioning like a digital license plate. The final rule was published on January 15, 2021, under 14 CFR Part 89.
As of March 16, 2024, Remote ID compliance is mandatory for all drones requiring FAA registration. Non-compliance can result in fines and suspension or revocation of pilot certificates.
Three Ways to Comply
All BVLOS operations under Part 108 require Remote ID compliance. FRIA operations are not applicable to BVLOS since they are restricted to visual line of sight.
LAANC stands for Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability. It is a collaboration between the FAA and private-sector UAS Service Suppliers (USS) that automates airspace authorization requests for drone operators flying in controlled airspace at or below 400 feet AGL.
Operators submit requests through an FAA-approved LAANC provider. The request is checked in near real-time against current airspace restrictions, traffic conditions, and altitude limits. If compliant, the operator receives a digital authorization — often within seconds.
LAANC is currently available at approximately 726 airports across the United States. It is available to Part 107 commercial operators and Section 44809 recreational flyers.
NOTAMs (Notices to Air Missions, renamed from "Notices to Airmen" in 2021) are advisories filed with the FAA to alert pilots of potential hazards, airspace restrictions, or changes along a flight route or at a specific location.
For BVLOS operations, NOTAM review is a critical part of pre-flight planning. Operators must check for temporary flight restrictions (TFRs), airspace changes, and other hazards in their operational area before every flight. Part 108 includes NOTAM review as part of standard pre-flight and in-flight procedures.
Utility & Power Line Inspection
Scanning hundreds of miles of grid infrastructure for corrosion, vegetation encroachment, or damage. The U.S. has over 160,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines.
Pipeline Monitoring
Monitoring oil, gas, and water pipelines across remote terrain for leaks, corrosion, and right-of-way encroachment. The U.S. has 2.6 million miles of pipeline.
Agriculture
Precision farming over thousands of acres — multispectral imagery for crop health, irrigation assessment, and pest detection.
Package Delivery
Companies like Zipline, Amazon, and UPS are developing BVLOS delivery networks. Zipline has logged over 100 million delivery miles, primarily for medical logistics.
Telecommunications
Inspecting cell towers and telecom corridor infrastructure without climbing crews.
Public Safety
Search and rescue, wildfire monitoring, disaster response, and law enforcement operations.
Railroad Inspection
Monitoring 140,000 miles of U.S. railroad for track defects, signal issues, and right-of-way encroachment.
Many of the highest-value BVLOS applications are corridor operations — flights along linear infrastructure like pipelines, power lines, railroads, and highways. These operations share common characteristics:
Corridor operations align naturally with Part 108's concept of pre-designated operational areas. Once a corridor is approved, operators can conduct routine flights without per-flight authorization — a major improvement over the Part 107 waiver process.
The final rule is expected in spring 2026 with implementation 6–12 months after. Operators should be preparing now:
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