Drone Committee Issues BVLOS Recommendations

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Key Takeaways:

  • The Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Aviation Rulemaking Committee has submitted recommendations to the FAA for integrating drones into the National Airspace System, stressing the need for uniform regulations and "rules of the road" to prevent conflicts with crewed aircraft.
  • Key proposals include establishing a consistent acceptable level of risk for all drone operations and utilizing automated "see-and-avoid" technology to guide drones.
  • The committee also recommends an advanced rating and additional training for pilots conducting BVLOS operations, recognizing them as fundamental to realizing the full economic and public benefits of drone technology.
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The FAA has been given a set of recommendations in the final report of a committee struck to study the practical integration of drones into the National Airspace System. The Beyond Visual Line of Sight Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) has handed in its final recommendations and is calling for a uniform set of regulations, some rules of the road to keep crewed aircraft and drones from conflict and an advanced rating for pilots who will fly drones out of their sight. BVLOS operations are considered fundamental to exploiting the full economic and public benefit potential of the technology.

The committee says the FAA needs to first establish “an acceptable level of risk (ALR) for UAS that is consistent across all types of operations being performed” to ensure fair treatment for all types of operations. It also sets up a plan for determining the right of way for uncrewed and crewed aircraft and allowing automated see-and-avoid technology to guide drones in those areas.  The committee also says pilots who want to fly BVLOS will need extra training to ensure they can handle the aircraft they intend to fly without visual reference.

Russ Niles

Russ Niles is Editor-in-Chief of AVweb. He has been a pilot for 30 years and joined AVweb 22 years ago. He and his wife Marni live in southern British Columbia where they also operate a small winery.
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