New analysis argues that outdated FAA rules, not technology limits, are holding back commercial drone deployment—and offers a path forward.
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Commercial drones are already improving how the U.S. inspects power lines, protects crops, responds to emergencies, and moves critical medical supplies—but most high-value uses remain limited by outdated flight rules.
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The biggest barrier is regulatory, not technical. Current FAA requirements largely restrict drones to where an operator can physically see them, forcing complex, case-by-case waivers for longer flights.
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Allowing routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations through clear, standardized rules would enable safer infrastructure inspections, faster emergency response, and more efficient logistics—at national scale.
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A modern BVLOS framework is also an industrial policy lever: commercial deployment drives the workforce, supply chains, and manufacturing capacity that defense and national security applications depend on.
Washington, D.C. — A new policy brief released today by SAFE’s Coalition for Reimagined Mobility (ReMo), From Waivers to Scale: How BVLOS Modernizes America’s Low-Altitude Infrastructure, calls on policymakers to finalize the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) long-awaited rules for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations in a way that enables safe, scalable deployment across the U.S. economy.
Today, most commercial drones must remain within the operator’s line of sight, preventing drones from delivering on some of their most valuable applications. Operators can apply for waivers to fly farther, but the process is slow, expensive, and inconsistent—creating a patchwork system that limits scale and investment.
The brief argues that replacing this waiver-based model with a clear, rules-based BVLOS framework would allow drones to operate routinely and safely over longer distances, unlocking high-impact uses while preserving aviation safety.
“Our low-altitude economy is constrained by rules that no longer reflect how drones can or should be used,” said Dominic Mathew, ReMo’s Manager of Transportation Policy and Partnerships. “A modern BVLOS framework would let the United States treat low-altitude airspace as critical infrastructure—enabling safer inspection and monitoring, faster emergency response, and more reliable delivery of essential services safely and at scale.”
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Critical infrastructure: Routine long-distance drone inspections can reduce costs, improve safety, and catch failures earlier across energy, agriculture, and transportation networks.
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Public safety and services: BVLOS enables faster drone-as-first-responder programs, disaster mapping, and medical logistics that are impossible under strict line-of-sight rules.
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Industrial and workforce competitiveness: Clear BVLOS rules create a demand signal for U.S.-made drones, software, and services—supporting domestic manufacturing, skilled jobs, and a trusted supply chain.
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Finalize new BVLOS operating rules on a predictable timeline, replacing bespoke waivers with risk-based, performance-driven standards.
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Require interoperability and digital coordination so multiple drone operators can safely share low-altitude airspace.
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Align federal procurement and incentives to help anchor a trusted, dual-use U.S. drone industrial base.
“We cannot build the drone systems of the future with regulatory frameworks designed for the past,” said Avery Ash, CEO of SAFE. “Commercial deployment is essential for success—it’s how the United States builds the technology, workforce, and operational experience that national security ultimately relies on.”
By shifting from waivers to standardized rules, the report concludes, the U.S. can safely scale drone operations, strengthen critical infrastructure, and maintain leadership in a rapidly evolving global technology landscape.
Watch the report release webinar
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About SAFE
SAFE is an action-oriented, nonpartisan organization committed to transportation, energy, and supply chain policies that advance the economic and national security of the United States, its partners, and allies. Since 2004, SAFE has worked with its Energy Security Leadership Council—a peerless coalition of current and former Fortune 500 CEOs and retired 4-star admirals and generals—to support secure, resilient, and sustainable energy solutions. Learn more at SecureEnergy.org.
