Background - Beyond Line of Sight: How Part 108 Could Transform Commercial Drones

[Gary C]

Commentary by Matt Pearl and Kuhu Badgi
Published August 18, 2026

Part 108 is the FAA's proposed framework for routine BVLOS operations, establishing a separate regulatory pathway that complements Part 107 for more complex missions. By allowing qualified operators to conduct safe, scalable BVLOS missions without relying on case-specific waivers, the regulation has the potential to transform emergency response, infrastructure inspection, agriculture, logistics, and other critical industries. The FAA reopened a targeted comment window in January 2026 on right-of-way, ADS-B, and detect-and-avoid provisions, and a draft rule was submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in July 2026, where it remains under review.

Source - https://www.csis.org/analysis/beyond-line-sight-how-part-108-could-transform-commercial-drones

The current draft for discussion - https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/BVLOS_NPRM_website_version.pdf

FAA Rulemaking Committees - https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/committees

 

[Mick West]

I think, based on most drone videos I've seen online, private individuals fly "beyond visual line of sight" all the time. This is just regulation catching up with reality - and letting commercial operators do what there's really no reason they shouldn't have been doing before.