Unlocking Drone Dominance for U.S. Energy Operations
/By: Dawn Zoldi, CEO P3 Tech Consulting & Publisher at Autonomy Global
The world of drone technology stands on the brink of a seismic shift. For years, the holy grail of commercial drone operations has been beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) capability—a regulatory and technological leap that promises to unlock new horizons for a range of industries, including energy. As the U.S. edges closer to standardized BVLOS rules, industry leaders, regulators, and innovators converged during a panel at this year’s 9th annual Energy Drone and Robotics Summit to answer a central question: What’s now, and what’s next for BVLOS in America’s skies?
View the session from the EDR Summit in June of 2025.
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Why BVLOS is the Game-Changer
Current U.S. drone regulations, anchored by FAA Part 107, require operators to keep drones within their direct line of sight. This restriction has hamstrung the potential of drones, making long-range missions—like inspecting miles of pipeline, monitoring remote power lines, or delivering medical supplies—either impossible or subject to a slow, unpredictable waiver process.
As Thomas Jimenez of uAvionix put it, “The only reason why people here (energy sector) are using drones is to leverage a tool to conduct operations more efficiently.” BVLOS changes the equation by amplifying the return on investment for drones in energy. By enabling drones to fly far beyond the operator’s view, it opens the door to scalable, cost-effective, and transformative applications.
Regulatory Momentum: The Push for Part 108
After years of anticipation, 2025 has brought unprecedented momentum in BVLOS policy. “Part 108,” the colloquial name for a much-anticipated standalone FAA BVLOS Rule, promises to replace the patchwork of waivers and exemptions with a clear, standardized set of rules. It will allow certified operators to conduct BVLOS missions as a matter of routine, not privilege. This new framework is expected to introduce operational permits for lower-risk missions and operational certificates for large-scale operations, such as drone delivery networks.
In June, a major executive order (EO) directed the FAA to accelerate this BVLOS rulemaking. The EO requires the FAA to publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Part 108 by July 6, 2025, followed by its final rule by January 31, 2026. “These are hot deadlines,” noted Todd Basile, attorney at Greenberg Traurig. “There’s a big administrative push to open that up—to make BVLOS operations routine and not the exception,” he noted.
Key Features of the Upcoming BVLOS Rule
Experts opined that the expected Part 108 rule, set to transform the operational landscape for drone pilots and organizations alike, will likely contain these significant provisions:
Routine BVLOS Operations: No more case-by-case waivers for most missions. Certified operators will be able to plan and execute BVLOS flights as part of regular business.
Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) Systems: Mandatory onboard or networked DAA technology will be required to ensure drones can safely navigate shared airspace.
Pilot Certification and Training: Expect new requirements for advanced pilot ratings, proficiency in radio communications, and possibly practical flight training for BVLOS operations.
Airspace Integration and Management: The rule is likely to introduce updated right-of-way rules and integration with Airspace Service Providers (ASPs) for real-time traffic management. It is also expected to include UAS Traffic Management (UTM) provisions. (Watch the recent Law-Tech Connect BVLOS/UTM Panel and read the related article on this topic).
Operational Flexibility: Organizations will be able to oversee multiple drones simultaneously from remote operations centers, shifting accountability from individual pilots to the employing organization.
As Rob Knochenhauer of Censys Technologies observed, “Five years ago, what we were getting approved were location-based approvals...doing that is very, very time intensive and not very efficient. Definitely not scalable. Now, we’re seeing a shift to performance-based approvals that have led to more scalable operations.”
Technology: The Backbone of Safe BVLOS
The leap to BVLOS is as much about technology as it is about regulation. Advances in DAA, high-resolution imaging, robust communication links and electronic conspicuity solutions like ADS-B for cooperative location broadcasting of crewed aircraft enable drones to safely operate far from their human operators. Companies like uAvionix lead the way for this transition to BVLOS by developing low-altitude-specific ground-based networks and preflight planning tools that help utility companies and energy providers manage risk and ensure compliance. (Watch Christian Ramsey of uAvionix on the Dawn of Autonomy 2025 and read the related AG article here).
“We’re supporting energy utilities by building airspace planning tools, and as such enabling strategic deconfliction processes prior to flight,” explained Jimenez. “We additionally support energy companies in real-time tactical deconfliction by providing real-time low-latency situational awareness of both crewed and uncrewed airborne assets both in the field and in real-time airspace operations centers,” he said.
Lessons from the Field: Operational Realities
While the regulatory and technological landscape continues to advance, the operational realities on the ground reveal both progress and persistent challenges. Censys Technologies, for example, has been at the vanguard of BVLOS operations by leveraging partnerships and advanced sensors to secure waivers and conduct long-range missions.
“In 2017, when we were founded, that was really hard. The approval rate for BVLOS applications was a fraction of a percent,” Knochenhauer recalled. “Now, we’re able to run linear operations up to 23 miles, with altitudes up to 200 feet above critical infrastructure. That’s a big change, and it’s delivering real, measurable value,” he noted. The FAA’s shift from location-specific waivers to more general operational approvals has been a game-changer, in his opinion.
Public Safety, Critical Infrastructure: Early Success Stories
Some of the most compelling successes in BVLOS operations for the energy sector to emulate have occurred in public safety. Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs have already demonstrated the life-saving potential of rapid, remote drone deployment. “Instead of sending a patrol out, they send a drone out to get eyes on. It’s really changed the game for public safety,” I pointed out in the EDRS panel.
The FAA initially streamlined the approval process for public safety agencies to enable more rapid deployment of DFR and similar programs. “We’ve seen new processes for public safety and expedited approvals. A lot of our clients are getting approvals in weeks, which was unheard of in the past,” Jimenez noted. These successes have spilled over into the critical infrastructure sector. The Dallas-Fort Worth “key site,” an operational evaluation involving local law enforcement and several drone delivery companies, has been a huge success as well.
“The FAA is using a lot of information and lessons learned to inform its programs. They’re going to take various data sources and run a little mini air traffic control, enabling these companies to go out there and perform these ops where you otherwise couldn’t,” Basile explained. All of these real world operations continue to set the stage for the next phase of scalable BVLOS operations.
What’s Next: The Sky’s the Limit!
Despite the progress, challenges remain. The integration of BVLOS drones into the national airspace will require not only technological innovation but also robust safety standards, pilot training, and public trust.
As Basile noted, “I think one thing we may see is an additional certification component for pilots who want to fly BVLOS—extra training, maybe even a practical flight training component. That might go a long way to assuaging some of the concerns.”
With the NPRM for Part 108 due in July and a final rule expected by January 2026, the next few months will be pivotal. Industry stakeholders are urged to participate in the rulemaking process, especially given the possibility of a short, 30-day comment window on a rule that could run to a thousand pages.
“If you’re in this industry and you care, take the time to do it. It might have been on the 4th of July. So maybe you grabbed your beer, your hot dog, and whipped open that 1000-pager to make your comments heard. Doing so is really important,” I urged.
The journey to routine BVLOS operations has been long and complex, but the finish line may finally be in sight. With robust rules, advanced technology, and a collaborative industry spirit, the U.S. can lead the world in safe, scalable, and transformative drone operations.
As Knochenhauer summed up, “Nobody cares about the drone itself. What matters is how we use them to make our operations safer, more efficient, and more impactful. That’s the promise of BVLOS—and it’s closer than ever.”