🇬🇧 Guide

BVLOS Operations: The Road to Part 108 and Today's Waiver Path

Quick Takeaways

Table of Contents

1. What Is BVLOS?
2. Current Legal Pathway: § 107.31 Waiver
3. Why BVLOS Waivers Are Rare
4. Key BVLOS Technical Requirements
5. Proposed Part 108: The Future Framework
6. Part 108 Timeline and What It Means
7. Industries That BVLOS Will Transform
8. Preparing for Part 108 Now
9. How MmowW Will Support Part 108 Operations
10. FAQ
11. Summary

---

What Is BVLOS? {#what-is-bvlos}

BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) describes drone operations where the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) cannot maintain direct, unaided visual contact with the aircraft throughout the flight.

Why BVLOS Matters

Standard Part 107 requires Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) — the pilot or a Visual Observer must always be able to see the drone with their naked eye. This limits operations to roughly 1–2 miles at most under ideal conditions.

BVLOS breaks this constraint, enabling:

• Pipeline and powerline inspection over hundreds of miles
• Precision agriculture across large farms
• Package delivery at commercial scale
• Infrastructure monitoring in remote areas
• Emergency response operations beyond responder reach

The economic and operational potential of routine BVLOS is enormous — which is why proposed Part 108 represents such a pivotal regulatory development.

Current regulatory status: 14 CFR § 107.31

---

Current Legal Pathway: § 107.31 Waiver {#current-pathway}

To conduct BVLOS operations today, operators must obtain a waiver of § 107.31 (Visual Line of Sight) through the Part 107.200 waiver process:

Application portal: FAA DroneZone

What FAA Looks For in BVLOS Waivers

The FAA evaluates BVLOS waivers against a high safety standard:

| Element | Description |

|---|---|

| DAA capability | How does the aircraft detect and avoid other aircraft? |

| Communication | How does the RPIC maintain control beyond visual range? |

| Contingency procedures | What happens during lost link, GPS failure, or emergency? |

| Operational volume | Exactly where and at what altitude will operations occur? |

| Risk assessment | Analysis of collision risk, ground impact risk, third-party risk |

| Operator experience | Flight hours, BVLOS-specific training, safety record |

---

Why BVLOS Waivers Are Rare {#why-rare}

Despite significant industry demand, BVLOS waivers are granted to a small number of operators. The reasons:

1. High technical bar: Most commercially available drones lack certified DAA systems
2. Application complexity: The safety case documentation is extensive and requires aviation safety expertise
3. FAA review capacity: The FAA processes limited BVLOS waivers per year
4. Specificity requirement: Waivers are corridor- or area-specific, not general authorizations

Operators that have received BVLOS waivers include major companies with dedicated aviation safety teams: utilities, pipeline companies, agricultural technology firms, and logistics companies with long-range delivery programs.

---

Key BVLOS Technical Requirements {#technical-requirements}

Detect and Avoid (DAA)

DAA is the technology that allows a BVLOS drone to detect conflicting traffic and take avoiding action — replacing the human eye's role in VLOS operations.

| DAA Technology | Description |

|---|---|

| ADS-B In | Receives position broadcasts from ADS-B equipped aircraft |

| TCAS-like systems | Traffic Collision Avoidance System adapted for UAS |

| Radar | Active detection of aircraft without transponders |

| Optical/cameras | Computer vision-based detection of nearby aircraft |

| Acoustic detection | Detection of aircraft by sound signature |

Most real-world BVLOS operations use combinations of these technologies.

Command and Control (C2) Link

The communication link between the RPIC and the drone must:

• Maintain reliable two-way communication throughout the flight
• Have defined lost-link procedures (what the aircraft does if it loses contact)
• Document link performance statistics

Common C2 solutions: cellular (4G/5G LTE), satellite (Iridium, Starlink), dedicated radio spectrum (licensed UAS spectrum).

---

Proposed Part 108: The Future Framework {#part-108}

Proposed Part 108 — formally titled "Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Operations" — is the FAA's long-anticipated regulatory framework that would enable routine BVLOS operations without individual waivers.

What Part 108 Would Create

Rather than requiring each operator to prove safety from scratch, Part 108 would establish:

• BVLOS operational categories based on aircraft type, environment, and risk level
• Performance standards that aircraft and operators must meet
• Designated airspace frameworks for routine operations
• Streamlined authorization — less than full waiver process for compliant operations

Key Provisions Expected in Part 108

| Area | Expected Requirements |

|---|---|

| Aircraft | Performance standards, airworthiness requirements |

| DAA | Minimum performance standards for detect-and-avoid systems |

| Remote Pilot | Enhanced training requirements above standard Part 107 |

| Operations | Categorized risk-based framework |

| C2 links | Performance and lost-link standards |

Source: FAA BVLOS ARC Final Report and FAA Reauthorization Act 2024 BVLOS mandates

---

Part 108 Timeline and What It Means {#part-108-timeline}

| Milestone | Status / Expected Date |

|---|---|

| BVLOS ARC Report | Published (advisory committee completed recommendations) |

| FAA Reauthorization Act 2024 | Mandates FAA to develop BVLOS rules (signed May 2024) |

| Part 108 NPRM | Expected 2026 — Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |

| Public comment period | Follows NPRM (typically 60–90 days) |

| Final Rule | 2027 or 2028 (estimate — regulatory timelines often shift) |

| Effective date | Likely 12–24 months after Final Rule publication |

---

Industries That BVLOS Will Transform {#industries}

| Industry | BVLOS Application | Impact |

|---|---|---|

| Utilities | Power line inspection along hundreds of miles | Days of work → hours; eliminate manual rope access |

| Oil & Gas | Pipeline leak detection, infrastructure monitoring | Routine monitoring replacing infrequent manned inspection |

| Agriculture | Whole-farm crop monitoring and spray applications | Real-time precision agriculture at scale |

| Logistics | Last-mile package delivery | New delivery infrastructure in underserved areas |

| Public Safety | Search and rescue, disaster assessment | Operations in areas unreachable or dangerous for responders |

| Mapping/Survey | Large-area topographic mapping | Survey projects that previously took weeks |

---

Preparing for Part 108 Now {#preparing}

Smart operators are positioning for Part 108 before it takes effect:

1. Build operational history under current waivers — demonstrate safe BVLOS track record
2. Invest in DAA-capable aircraft — systems that will meet expected Part 108 standards
3. Train remote pilots in BVLOS procedures — enhanced training above standard Part 107
4. Document everything — operational logs, safety events, near-misses, corrective actions
5. Engage with industry groups — AUVSI, CPAS, and other organizations shaping Part 108 standards
6. Prepare compliance infrastructure — MmowW and similar platforms will add Part 108 compliance modules

---

How MmowW Will Support Part 108 Operations {#mmoww-section}

---

FAQ {#faq}

---

Summary {#summary}

BVLOS operations in 2026:

• Current pathway: § 107.31 waiver through FAA DroneZone — complex, time-consuming, granted to few operators
• Key requirements: DAA system, robust C2 link, comprehensive safety case, specific operational corridor
• Part 108: NPRM expected 2026; would create routine BVLOS pathways; not yet in effect
• Industries: Utilities, oil & gas, agriculture, logistics, public safety
• Prepare now: Build operational history, invest in compliant technology, document everything

Related Articles

• Part 107 Waivers: Which Rules You Can Waive and How to Apply
• Part 107 Explained: The Complete Guide to Commercial Drone Operations in the US (2026)
• Flying Over People: Category 1–4 Operations Explained
• State and Local Drone Laws: What the FAA Doesn't Control

---

CTA

---

Disclaimer

References

• FAA Part 107 (14 CFR Part 107): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107
• FAA BVLOS Operations: https://www.faa.gov/uas/advanced_operations/beyond_visual_line_of_sight
• FAA Reauthorization Act 2024: https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-reauthorization-act-2024
• FAA DroneZone: https://faadronezone-access.faa.gov/
• FAA UAS Advanced Operations: https://www.faa.gov/uas/advanced_operations/

• 2026-04-14 — Initial publication