Home / Shape the Future of Low-Altitude Drone Operations Shape the Future of Low-Altitude Drone Operations Comment on FAA’s Part 108 – Contribute to Safe Drone Commercialization. VAI Urges Industry Members to Comment on Proposed Drone Regulations Deadline: Oct. 6, 2025 The FAA has proposed a new rule, Normalizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations (BVLOS), also known as Part 108, to expand BVLOS drone operations. The proposed rule introduces significant changes to how aircraft share the low-altitude airspace where vertical flight operations routinely take place. VAI fully supports safe drone integration and recognizes the importance of advancing BVLOS operations for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). At the same time, it is essential that the proposal be improved to reflect the realities of manned vertical flight operations and the important missions these aircraft perform. The proposed rule relies on inaccurate assumptions about the low-altitude environment, proposes significant changes to long-standing right-of-way rules, and risks creating unnecessary hazards in the airspace. With targeted revisions, the FAA has an opportunity to strengthen the proposal and ensure that BVLOS integration enhances, rather than compromises, the safety and efficiency of the US National Airspace System. Call to Action! VAI calls on all its members to review the association’s comments and submit them, along with any of their own perspectives, to the FAA. Comments are due Oct. 6. We also strongly encourage our members outside of the United States to submit comments. While the FAA is a US regulator, its rules often set global precedents and influence international aviation standards. Input from non-US operators will help ensure that the rule reflects the realities of vertical flight worldwide. It is imperative that the FAA receive as much consistent feedback as possible. The more aligned the input the FAA receives, the stronger our collective voice will be in shaping the final rule. Read the proposed rule Read VAI’s Comments to the FAA How to Submit Comments on the BVLOS (Part 108) NPRM Deadline to Submit Comments: Oct. 6, 2025 Please review VAI’s comments first, then follow the steps below to submit on Regulations.gov. Step-by-Step Guide for Submitting Comments Step 1 — Click on the Submit BVLOS Comments button below. (This will open a new tab) Submit BVLOS Comments Step 2 — Enter your comment text (choose from the templates below, or draft your own) Template A — Submit VAI’s comments in addition to your own I am submitting Vertical Aviation International’s (VAI’s) comments in full in addition to the comments of [Company/Individual Name]. VAI fully supports safe drone integration and recognizes the importance of advancing beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations for unmanned aircraft systems. At the same time, improvements are needed in the proposed rule to reflect the realities of manned vertical flight operations and the important missions these aircraft perform. As proposed, the rule relies on inaccurate assumptions about the low-altitude environment, would unravel aircraft-to-aircraft avoidance procedures by undermining long-standing right-of-way frameworks. With targeted revisions, the FAA can strengthen the rule so that BVLOS integration enhances, rather than compromises, the safety and efficiency of the US National Airspace System. Submitting VAI’s comments alongside our own ensures the FAA receives consistent, aligned feedback from across the vertical aviation community, making it easier to identify areas of broad agreement and prioritize fixes that improve safety outcomes. [Company/Individual Name] therefore endorses VAI’s recommendations and provides the attached supplemental comments to highlight operational specifics relevant to our missions and locations. Template B — Submit only VAI’s comments I am submitting Vertical Aviation International’s (VAI’s) comments in full on behalf of [Company/Individual Name]. VAI fully supports safe drone integration and recognizes the importance of advancing beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations for unmanned aircraft systems. At the same time, improvements are needed in the proposed rule to reflect the realities of manned vertical flight operations and the important missions these aircraft perform. As proposed, the rule relies on inaccurate assumptions about the low-altitude environment, would unravel aircraft-to-aircraft avoidance procedures by undermining long-standing right-of-way frameworks. With targeted revisions, the FAA can strengthen the rule so that BVLOS integration enhances, rather than compromises, the safety and efficiency of the US National Airspace System. Submitting VAI’s comments directly ensures the FAA receives clear, consistent input from across the vertical aviation community, making it easier to identify broad industry priorities and implement changes that support safety and critical missions. [Company/Individual Name] therefore endorses VAI’s recommendations as submitted. Step 3 — “What is your comment about?” Select: Rule / Proposed Rule / Final Rule Step 4 — Attach files You may attach up to 20 files, each up to 10 MB. Accepted types: bmp, docx, gif, jpg, jpeg, pdf, png, pptx, rtf, sgml, tif, tiff, txt, wpd, xlsx, xml. Attach VAI’s comments: Once you have reviewed the document, download and save it as a PDF to upload as an attachment. If submitting comments in addition to VAI’s: Attach your own comment file and any supporting materials (such as case studies, operational data, or photos) with VAI’s comments. If submitting only VAI’s comments: Upload just the saved PDF of VAI’s comments. Step 5 — Include your email address Enter your email address to receive a confirmation of your submission along with a tracking number. This is the easiest way to verify that your comment was successfully submitted. If you choose to submit anonymously, you will not be able to receive an email confirmation. Regulations.gov will not post or share your email address publicly; it is used solely for confirmation purposes. Step 6 — Identify the submitter Choose Individual, Organization, or Anonymous(Tip: If submitting on behalf of a company/association, select “Organization” and include the organization’s type and name.) Step 7 — Review and submit Carefully review your text and attachments, then click Submit Comment. Save or print the confirmation receipt (if you received one) for your records.
