The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a landmark rule that could transform the U.S. commercial drone industry. The new regulation would allow drones to operate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), a significant shift from current rules that require operators to maintain direct visual contact with their drones. This change is intended to streamline drone operations, reduce regulatory hurdles, and enable widespread applications such as package delivery, infrastructure inspection, and emergency response. The move comes as part of broader efforts to bolster American innovation and counter China’s growing dominance in the unmanned aviation sector, particularly with companies like DJI holding nearly 90% of the global market.
Currently, operators must obtain individual FAA waivers — only 657 issued so far — to fly drones beyond where they can physically see them, hampered by months of delay and bureaucratic setbacks.