BVLOS Breakthrough — FAA Charts a Path for Remotely Piloted Flight

By Tamara Casey
AURA Network Systems Chief Strategy Officer & EVP of Business Development

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) release of its long-anticipated Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations marks a meaningful milestone for integrating uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) into the national airspace.

Bringing this NPRM to fruition required years of coordinated effort from government leaders, industry partners, technical standards organizations, and public stakeholders. AURA commends the FAA and the U.S. Department of Transportation for advancing the rulemaking. We also appreciate the renewed federal momentum — including White House executive orders, as well as DOT and FAA initiatives. Together, they signal a growing national commitment to uncrewed aviation and continue to elevate it as a strategic priority.

The NPRM outlines a practical path toward scalable BVLOS operations across sectors — from national security, emergency response, and public safety to infrastructure inspections, logistics, and regional air cargo. Importantly, it acknowledges the critical role of third-party service providers delivering safety-critical capabilities for remotely piloted aircraft operating in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace. Their inclusion establishes a predictable framework for operators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and reflects the broader technical foundation needed to safely expand BVLOS flight nationwide.

AURA has long championed this approach — through contributions to the FAA’s BVLOS Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) and through work to define performance standards for command-and-control (C2) communications. Jim Williams, AURA’s Regulatory Affairs Director, represented the company on the ARC and continues to co-chair RTCA Special Committee 228, where he helps shape standards for C2 links, detect-and-avoid systems, and remotely piloted aircraft.

“This NPRM reflects the shared effort of so many, and it’s a significant step toward scalable, safety-driven uncrewed aviation,” said Jim Williams. “Throughout my time at the FAA leading the UAS Integration Office and through years of work with RTCA and the ARC, I’ve seen what’s possible when expertise and common goals come together. At AURA, we believe purpose-built aviation networks will set the standard for reliable, secure BVLOS communication, and this NPRM shows clear momentum toward that future.”

Williams' decades of federal service — including leadership roles within the FAA’s UAS Integration Office and Systems Engineering and Safety Directorate — continue to guide AURA’s contributions across technical, regulatory, and operational domains.

This rulemaking is more than a waypoint — it’s an inflection point for the future of flight. It affirms the value of collaboration and lays the groundwork for resilient, scalable aviation infrastructure. AURA remains committed to supporting its implementation and working shoulder-to-shoulder with public and private stakeholders to ensure BVLOS integration unfolds safely, reliably, and with national impact.

As the NPRM enters its review phase, AURA is preparing formal comments to share our technical perspective and support the FAA’s path forward.