CDA Welcomes Landmark Proposal to Enable Routine BVLOS Operations
NEWS RELEASE
COMMERCIAL DRONE ALLIANCE
August 5, 2025
Commercial Drone Alliance Welcomes Landmark Proposal to Enable Routine BVLOS Operations
Today’s action follows White House Executive Orders aimed at restoring US leadership in commercial drones by removing barriers to safe, scalable drone integration
WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 5, 2025 – The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) commends the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the broader interagency for releasing the long-anticipated Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to enable routine beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone operations. This pivotal step promises to unlock the benefits of commercial drone technology by standardizing BVLOS safety requirements, enhancing demand in our nation’s domestic drone marketplace, and reducing reliance on burdensome and costly case-by-case government approvals.
This proposed action to normalize BVLOS operations in the National Airspace System will unlock transformative scaled drone applications across key sectors such as agriculture, energy, public safety, emergency response, infrastructure inspection, and logistics. This action fulfills a White House directive in a recent Executive Order focused on advancing domestic drone manufacturing and accelerating U.S. drone innovation. The CDA has long advocated to level the domestic playing field for commercial drone operations and unlock the full potential of wide-scale operations. This draft rule is a critical milestone.
“For far too long, outdated regulations have held back the tremendous potential of the commercial drone marketplace. Today’s action marks a pivotal advancement toward modernizing U.S. drone policy,” said Lisa Ellman, CEO of the CDA. “This long-awaited announcement is the result of years of collaboration between the FAA, CDA, and our membership to create a comprehensive framework for safe, scalable BVLOS operations. We appreciate the Administration’s focus on advancing this crucial initiative."
“Unlocking BVLOS is essential to realizing the full economic, safety, and societal benefits of drone technology for all Americans,” added Liz Forro, Policy Director of the CDA. “This proposal represents a significant step toward developing the low-altitude economy in this country, and we welcome the opportunity to fully engage in the policymaking process. Everyone who benefits from drone operations today should raise their voice in support of this progress, and provide concrete advice to regulators on how to further refine the proposal.”
Once the BVLOS proposal is published in the Federal Register, the public will have 60 days to comment. The CDA looks forward to providing industry feedback to the Federal Government and urges swift review and finalization of the rule to help restore American leadership in advanced aviation.
Read the full Department of Transportation press release.
Read Lisa Ellman's remarks at the DOT BVLOS NPRM press conference.
Watch the recording of the DOT press conference.
About the Commercial Drone Alliance
The Commercial Drone Alliance is a non-profit organization led by key leaders in the commercial drone and advanced air mobility industries. The CDA unites a diverse group of stakeholders, including commercial drone end-users, manufacturers, service providers, advanced air mobility companies, and drone security firms. The CDA also engages with vertical markets such as public safety, oil and gas, precision agriculture, food and goods delivery, utilities, construction, security, communications technology, infrastructure, public health, and filmmaking.
The CDA collaborates with all levels of government to advocate for policies that support industry growth. The organization also seeks to educate the public on the safe and responsible use of commercial drones, emphasizing their potential to drive economic benefits and contribute to humanitarian efforts.
Learn more at www.commercialdronealliance.org.
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