Last week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy took a decisive step toward reshaping the future of American skies. He sent off two proposed rules to integrate drones more seamlessly into the national airspace. The changes involve allowing drones to operate beyond the pilot's visual line of sight (BVLOS) and establishing restrictions on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) at fixed site facilities. This move, part of a broader innovation agenda, seeks to pivot the U.S. into a position of continued global leadership in drone technology.
The response from key industry leaders has been notably positive. Lisa Ellman, CEO of the Commercial Drone Alliance, praised the Trump Administration for pushing the BVLOS and Section 2209 rules forward, highlighting the boost these changes could give to "safe, secure, and scalable drone operations," according to the US Department of Transportation. The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International’s (AUVSI) CEO, Michael Robbins, also commended the progress, urging the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) to quickly "finalize these rules" to give the drone industry the "certainty and momentum" it requires.
The American Petroleum Institute's Suzanne Lemieux pointed to the advantages BVLOS could bring in terms of infrastructure inspection and emissions monitoring—a sentiment echoed by David French of the National Retail Federation, who emphasized the criticality of these rules for evolving retail supply chains and drone delivery services. Ian Jefferies from the Association of American Railroads expressed his appreciation for the advancement, which could improve infrastructure safety and inspection efficiency within the rail industry.
Amazon Public Policy expressed excitement over the draft BVLOS rule, emphasizing that the development is a "big step toward unlocking safe, scalable drone deliveries." Furthermore, Archer Aviation's CEO, Adam Goldstein, took to social media to share the company's recent selection as the exclusive air taxi for the upcoming LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games—a testament to the government's confidence in their technology. This announcement followed a meeting between Goldstein and Secretary Duffy, highlighting the administration's commitment to maintaining American aviation leadership. Nikhil Goel, Archer Aviation's CCO, is excited to announce "the most iconic Olympic Games the world has ever seen," as per the US Department of Transportation.
.jpg){kind=link}