Part 108 BVLOS Rule Advances to OIRA Review

The Brief

The FAA’s highly anticipated Part 108 rule for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations has officially moved to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for final review. This marks the last major administrative hurdle before the rule is published, signaling a pivotal shift toward normalized, scalable BVLOS drone operations across the United States without reliance on complex waivers.

Need to Know

• What: The draft Part 108 BVLOS rule is under final OIRA review.
• Who: The FAA and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).
• When: Received July 10, 2026; OIRA typically reviews within 90 days.
• Where: United States national airspace.
• Status: Pending final review and publication.

What Happened / Scope

On July 10, 2026, the FAA submitted the draft Part 108 rulemaking package to OIRA. This submission represents the culmination of years of industry consultation, Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) recommendations, and testing. While internal FAA targets hinted at a July release, OIRA’s standard 90-day review period means the final publication will likely occur by early Q4 2026. The rule aims to establish standard certification and operational requirements for routine BVLOS flights.

Why It Matters

For years, the U.S. drone industry has operated under the restrictive Part 107 framework, requiring arduous waivers (Part 107.31) for any BVLOS mission. Part 108 shifts the paradigm from exception-based approvals to a standardized regulatory framework. This enables predictable scaling for enterprise programs, from linear infrastructure inspection to drone delivery, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for advanced operations.

Operational Impact

Standardized BVLOS rules will fundamentally alter fleet management and operational economics. Operators will be able to plan long-range missions without the administrative overhead of waiver applications. It shifts the burden from proving safety on a case-by-case basis to adhering to established type-certification, detect-and-avoid (DAA) standards, and remote pilot training requirements.

What to Watch Next

Monitor the Federal Register through October 2026 for the official Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) or Final Rule publication, which will detail the specific DAA performance standards and aircraft certification requirements.

Bottom Line

Part 108 is finally out of the FAA's hands and on the desk at OIRA. Normalized BVLOS operations are no longer a distant concept, but an imminent regulatory reality.

Sources/Disclosures

Primary reporting based on OIRA public dockets and FAA regulatory updates (July 2026). No industry conflicts of interest to disclose.