Commercial Drone Alliance Applauds Advancement of Key UAS Rules to the White House for Review
NEWS RELEASE
May 14, 2025
Commercial Drone Alliance Applauds Advancement of Key UAS Rules to the White House for Review
Progress on BVLOS and Critical Infrastructure Rulemaking Marks Step Toward Restoring U.S. Leadership in Commercial Drone Technology
WASHINGTON, D.C.– May 14, 2025 – The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA), an independent 501c6 non-profit organization led by key members of the commercial drone industry, applauds the Trump Administration for advancing two critical, industry-supported rulemakings – the rule to normalize Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) UAS operations (RIN 2120-AL82), and the rule to restrict unauthorized UAS operations in close proximity to certain fixed site facilities, also known as the Section 2209 (of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016) rule – to the White House for review. This early Administration action signals strong federal support for unlocking the benefits of commercial drone technology.
The CDA has actively supported both rules, which provide the regulatory certainty needed to accelerate commercial drone adoption and strengthen the global competitiveness of domestic drone manufacturers. Today’s news follows the CDA’s Commercial Drone Innovation and Security Summit on May 13, where CDA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Ellman called on the federal government to restore America’s leadership in drone technology.
“The CDA applauds the Trump Administration for advancing the BVLOS and Section 2209 rules forward,” said Ellman. “Outdated regulations and regulatory paralysis threaten America’s security and aviation leadership. But with the right framework in place, we can unlock the real benefits of safe, secure, and scalable drone operations for the American people, from medical deliveries and emergency response to infrastructure inspection and public safety. The BVLOS rule especially is a critical deregulatory action which will remove ill-suited regulations that artificially constrain American innovation and ingenuity.”
The purpose of the BVLOS rule is to enable and normalize commercial drone operations that are otherwise prohibited or require individual approval through bureaucratic and time-consuming FAA application processes. Meanwhile, Section 2209 mandates that the FAA establish a process for restricting or prohibiting unauthorized drone operations near critical infrastructure and other sensitive facilities. The CDA appreciates the concurrent movement of both rules, as innovation and security are two sides of the same coin for drone integration.
“This is a crucial milestone to finally right-sizing the low altitude airspace for commercial drone activity,” said CDA Policy Director Liz Forro. “This action will spur much-needed investment in our domestic drone industrial base and relieve the regulatory paralysis that has crippled the U.S. from leading in advanced aviation technology to date. We encourage OIRA to clear both proposals quickly so that CDA and its members finally get the opportunity to review and provide feedback in support of the Administration’s efforts to quickly finalize these rules.”
These deregulatory actions align with Executive Order 14192, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation, which prioritizes actions that reduce administrative burden, bolster economic growth, and support national security. Quick action was possible because the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has already done substantial work to prepare the draft rule and interagency stakeholders already provided input.
About the Commercial Drone Alliance
The Commercial Drone Alliance is an independent non-profit organization led by key leaders in the commercial drone and advanced air mobility industries. The CDA brings together commercial drone end-users, manufacturers, service providers, advanced air mobility companies, drone security companies, and vertical markets including oil and gas, precision agriculture, construction, security, communications technology, infrastructure, logistics, newsgathering, and filmmaking. The CDA works with all levels of government to collaborate on policies for industry growth and educates the public on the safe and responsible use of commercial drones to achieve economic benefits and humanitarian gains.
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