BVLOS - Beyond Visual Line of Sight.

It’s undeniable, Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) is the next big opportunity for commercial drone operators. BVLOS is poised to provide early adopters, in industries such as agriculture, construction, asset inspection, public safety, and rescue with enormous cost savings, improved safety, & competitive advantage for years to come. However, it's important that early adopters understand the current barriers to adoption & how to position themselves, so they are ready to capitalize on this rapidly developing opportunity.

Fortunately, the FAA is rapidly creating opportunities for state and local governments to partner with pilots and manufacturers to help bridge the gap between regulatory standards and industry needs.  Early BVLOS adopters have already started to participate in cutting edge programs like the FAA’s “Pathfinder” Program. Through the Pathfinder program regulators partner directly with technology companies to explore the development of future regulatory standards. These industry-regulator partnerships are helping to meaningfully push BVLOS forward and make this technology a reality. By participating in these types of programs you may be able to help shape future regulations, connect with other early adopters and stay on top of changes in the industry.

Although BVLOS is developing rapidly, we have a long road ahead. Regulations will take years to be created and refined. In the meantime, drone operators should closely monitor changes in the industry. Companies like AirMap have created and are constantly updating databases that help pilots understand where they can and can’t fly.  In addition, the emergence of technologies like Remote ID’s for drones is critical for the future of this technology. Remote ID will give a boost to UTM or Universal Traffic Management. This will allow for flight over people operations and autonomous operations – making it possible to acquire data and solve problems on a much larger scale. Finally, develop a relationship with local drone experts like our team at Planet Inhouse. We stay up-to-date on all changes in the industry and can help you get the most out of your drone investment today and position yourself to take advantage of new opportunities as they emerge.