FAA Part 108 Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)

The future of long-range drone missions for professionals and enterprises

What is it?

Part 108 is the forthcoming FAA regulation intended to formally allow standardized Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations for commercial use. It will replace current reliance on case-by-case waivers with a more reliable and scalable regulatory framework

Who will need it?

Commercial operators planning to conduct BVLOS activities—such as infrastructure inspection, drone delivery, agricultural monitoring, or emergency response—will need to comply with Part 108 certification and operational standards.

What we expect?

  • Detect-and-avoid technologies and reliable command-and-control systems will be required onboard drones.
  • Operators must meet minimum aircraft performance standards (e.g. endurance, navigation, communications).
  • Training and certification will evolve—a BVLOS rating or designation on top of Part 107 certification, with enhanced emphasis on risk management and airspace integration.
  • Approval for BVLOS flights may shift from individual missions to routine operations, provided operators follow the rule’s built-in provisions

Why Part 108 Matters?

  • Routine BVLOS flights without waivers—operators can scale long-distance operations across miles, rather than applying for flight-specific permissions under Part 107.

  • Empowered industries—from drone-delivery fleets to agricultural monitoring across large fields to expanded infrastructure inspection capabilities.

  • Improved safety and integration—by introducing standardized technology requirements, operator credentials, and airspace coordination protocols.

Current Regulatory Status

  • FAA was required by law to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Part 108 by September 16, 2024, but as of mid-2025, it remains unpublished—a deadline now missed.
  • A draft is still expected, but likely won’t be finalized before 2026, meaning commercial operators remain under waiver-based BVLOS permissions for now

Course overview

Our Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification Course prepares you to pass the Part 107 aeronautical knowledge exam confidently. Over 1,000 students have completed the training to earn their remote pilot certification.

Course steps

FAQs

A proposed FAA rule enabling approved BVLOS operations under a standardized regulatory framework.

If you perform commercial drone flights beyond visual line-of-sight, yes—Part 108 will be required once it’s finalized.

Only under FAA-approved Part 107 BVLOS waivers. After Part 108, routine operations may be possible without individual waivers.

NPRM deadlines were missed in 2024 and mid-2025. Expect final rules in 2026 or later.