WASHINGTON — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced a proposed rule aimed at integrating drones more fully into the national airspace, removing a barrier that has limited the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), according to a press release.
This action aligns with President Donald Trump’s recent executive order aimed at accelerating drone deployment and strengthening American leadership in drone technology.
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The new rule, known as the Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) proposal, would eliminate the requirement for drone operators to obtain waivers or exemptions for flights that extend beyond the operator’s direct line of sight, a restriction that has long limited commercial drone operations.
“We are making the future of our aviation a reality and unleashing American drone dominance…” Duffy said in a statement. “Our new rule will reform outdated regulations that were holding innovators back while also enhancing safety in our skies”
The proposal, announced on Aug. 5, aims to broaden the range of drone applications, with potential impacts in fields such as agriculture, energy, manufacturing, filmmaking, public safety and the delivery of goods.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford called the move essential to unlocking the full societal and economic benefits of drones.
“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,” Bedford stated.
The proposed rule includes new requirements for drone manufacturers, operators and traffic management systems to ensure that BVLOS flights remain safely separated from both manned aircraft and other drones.
Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, called the rule “a bold, forward-looking step” and said it would help secure U.S. leadership in the drone industry.
Ahead of the announcement, retired Charlottesville fire chief Charles Werner, director of DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Alliance, highlighted the impact of drones on public safety during an appearance on Fox & Friends, emphasizing how Drones as First Responder (DFR) programs save lives.
“Drones are saving lives, and they’re doing that because it’s transforming how responders respond to emergency calls dramatically. Makes it safer for everybody involved, makes it better, real-time situational awareness and de-escalater to many calls,” Werner said.
Werner detailed an incident in Chula Vista, California, where drones played a critical role in saving a life during a vehicle fire. Police officers initially received conflicting location information, but a drone quickly pinpointed the vehicle, allowing officers to extract the person “without a second to spare.” Werner credited Chula Vista Police Chief Roxana Kennedy for initiating the department’s pioneering DFR program in 2018.
He also noted that drone-first responder programs enable police departments to utilize their officers more effectively.
The Federal Aviation Administration will accept public comments on the proposal during the rulemaking process. Additional information is available in the FAA’s fact sheet on the proposed rule.
