Normalizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION <SUBAGY>Federal Aviation Administration</SUBAGY> <CFR>14 CFR Parts 36, 43, 45, 48, 89, 91, 107, 108, 119, 133, 135, 137, and 146</CFR> <DEPDOC>[Docket No. FAA-2025-1908; Notice No. 25-07]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 2120-AL82</RIN> DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY <SUBAGY>Transportation Security Administration</SUBAGY> <CFR>49 CFR Parts 1540 and 1544</CFR> <RIN>RIN 1652-AA80</RIN> <SUBJECT>Normalizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation, and Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security. <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> This action proposes performance-based regulations to enable the design and operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) at low altitudes beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) and for third-party services, including UAS Traffic Management (UTM), that support these operations. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 directs the development of this proposed rule. This proposed rule is necessary to support the integration of UAS into the national airspace system (NAS). This proposed rule is intended to provide a predictable and clear pathway for safe, routine, and scalable UAS operations that include package delivery, agriculture, aerial surveying, civic interest, operations training, demonstration, recreation, and flight testing. TSA proposes to make complementary changes to its regulations to ensure it can continue to impose security measures on these operations under its current regulatory structure for civil aviation. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> Send comments on or before October 6, 2025. </EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2025-1908 using any of the following methods: • <E T="03">Federal eRulemaking Portal:</E> Go to <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov/</E> and follow the online instructions for sending your comments electronically. • <E T="03">Mail:</E> Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001. • <E T="03">Hand Delivery or Courier:</E> Take comments to Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. • <E T="03">Fax:</E> Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251. <E T="03">Docket:</E> Background documents or comments received may be read at <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov/</E> at any time. Follow the online instructions for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Michelle Ferritto, ARM-100, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20592; Phone: Phone: 844 359-6982; Email: <E T="03">9-FAA-UAS-BVLOS-Rule@faa.gov</E> . </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">List of Abbreviations and Acronyms Frequently Used in This Document</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">AAM—Advanced Air Mobility</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">AC—Advisory Circular</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ACAS—Airborne Collision Avoidance System</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ADS—B Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">AE—Associated Elements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">AGL—Above Ground Level</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">API—Application Programming Interface</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ARC—Aviation Rulemaking Committee</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ASOS—Automated Surface Observing System</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ASRS—Aviation Safety Reporting System</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ATC—Air Traffic Control</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ATM—Air Traffic Management</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">AWOS—Automated Weather Observing System</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">BVLOS—Beyond Visual Line of Sight</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">C2—Command-and-Control</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CBI—Confidential Business Information</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CFR—Code of Federal Regulations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CMSA—Conformance Monitoring for Situational Awareness</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">COA—Certificate of Waiver or Authorization</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">COMAT—Company Materials</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ConOps—Concept of Operations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">COS—Continued Operational Safety</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DAA—Detect and Avoid</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DOC—Declaration of Compliance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DOT—Department of Transportation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DSS—Discover and Synchronization Service</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EASA—European Union Aviation Safety Agency</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EC—Electronic Conspicuity</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FAA—Federal Aviation Administration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FRIA—FAA-Recognized Identification Areas</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FSDO—Flight Standards District Office</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">GA—General Aviation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">GCS—Ground Control Station</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">GPS—Global Positioning Systems</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">HAZMAT—Hazardous Materials</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">HIRF—High Intensity Radiated Field</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">HME—Hazardous Materials Endorsement</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">HMR—Hazardous Materials Regulations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">IBR—Incorporation by Reference</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ICAO—International Civil Aviation Organization</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">IRFA—Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">IUEI—Intentional Unauthorized Electronic Interaction</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">JARUS—Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">LAANC—Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">MAIS—Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">METAR—Meteorological Aerodrome Report</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">MIT/LL—Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">MOA—Memorandum of Agreement</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">MOC—Means of Compliance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">MOPS—Minimum Operational Performance Standards</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">MOSAIC—Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NAICS—North American Industry Classification System</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NAS—National Airspace System</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NASA—National Aeronautics and Space Administration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">nm—Nautical Miles</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NOTAM—Notice to Airmen</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NPRM—Notice of Proposed Rulemaking</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NTSB—National Transportation Safety Board</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NWS—National Weather Service</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OMB—Office of Management and Budget</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OpSpecs—Operation Specifications</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OST—Office of the Secretary of Transportation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PAO—Public Aircraft Operation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PHMSA—Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PNT—Positioning, Navigation, and Timing</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">POI—Principal Operations Inspector</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RFA—Regulatory Flexibility Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">RPA—Rule of Particular Applicability</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SAC—Special Airworthiness Certificate</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SARPS—Standards and Recommended Practices</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SBA—Small Business Administration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SDSP—Supplemental Data Service Provider</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SMS—Safety Management System</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SOH—State of Health</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SORA—Specific Operations Risk Assessment</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SPSO—Service Provider Standard Order</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SRA—Safety Risk Assessment</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">STA—Security Threat Assessment</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">sUAS—Small UAS</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SUI—Simplified User Interaction</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">sXu—System X for sUAS</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">TAF—Terminal Area Forecast</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">TRACON—Terminal Radar Approach Control</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">TSA—Transportation Security Administration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">TSO—Technical Standards Order</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">UA—Unmanned Aircraft</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">UAS—Unmanned Aircraft System</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">UAT—Universal Access Transceiver</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">UES—Universal Enrollment Service(s)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">UFT—UTM Field Test</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">UPP—UTM Pilot Program</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">USS—Unmanned Aircraft System Service Supplier</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1"> USSP—U-Space Service Provider </FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">UTM—Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">VLOS—Visual Line of Sight</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">VSL—Value of Statistical Life</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">VTOL—Vertical Takeoff and Landing</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">xTM—Extensible Traffic Management</FP> </EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Table of Contents</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">I. Executive Summary</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Purpose of This Regulatory Action</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Overview of Proposed Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Summary of the Costs and Benefits</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">II. Authority for This Rulemaking</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Section 44807 Statutory Findings</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Authority for Regulating Third-Party Services</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Authority for Regulating Noise</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">III. Background</FP> ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 1360k characters. Full document text is stored and available for version comparison. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━