“As I noted last month in Congressional testimony, the 2024 FAA Reauthorization law set firm deadlines to move the long-awaited Part 108 BVLOS rule forward,” said AUVSI President and CEO Michael Robbins at the Drone & AAM Policy Symposium on July 29, 2025. “The first of those Congressional deadlines was missed, as of today, by 316 days. The Unleashing American Drone Dominance Executive Order signed by President Trump last month set a deadline for the BVLOS draft to be released within 30 days, or by July 6. That deadline – from the President of the United States – passed 23 days ago.”
According to Robbins, the FAA has taken herculean steps to move the draft rule forward and there have been intergovernmental squabbles and turf battles on the substance of the draft rule.
“We understand 108 is no longer just an FAA rule but now also lists TSA on the rule title,” he told symposium attendees. “We know that Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs is reviewing the rule again, for the second time, after failing to publish before the Administration changed, and the clock is ticking and ticking and ticking. And lastly, we know: “It is the policy of the United States to ensure continued American leadership in the development, commercialization, and export of UAS by accelerating the safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace System through timely, risk-based rulemaking that enables routine advanced operations. That is from the President of the United States, June 6, 2025.”
“BVLOS is a priority for the FAA. It is a priority for Congress. A priority for the President, and yet, here we are. I am exasperated about this. I know many of you are too. Because as I said at this event a year ago and many times since, we are still only talking about a draft rule. There is time to sort out differences during the review, comment, and adjudication period. To underscore how urgent this rulemaking is, BVLOS waivers approved by the FAA grew by 88% year-over-year, and there are now more than 657 active waivers, the highest number in program history. That is a lot of extra work for industry and for the FAA – whereas having a rule to adhere to reduces regulatory red tape and saves the taxpayer and industry time and money. We are going to get there, but it is going to require more hard work. More grit. More advocacy. And let me clear, when the draft rule is finally published, which it will be soon, knives will be out.”
AUVSI also published at the event a letter it had written to the US Department of Defense outlining industry recommendations for implementing the autonomous systems funding included in the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including developing appropriate counter-UAS acquisition policies.
“Evolving threats in the ground domain demands more than isolated prototypes—it requires deliberate, sustained investment in counter-UxS (autonomous) systems and robotic cargo transport capabilities that are scalable and rapidly fielded,” said the letter. “Bridging this gap demands funding and acquisition strategies that abandon static and prescriptive programs of record, and shift toward modular, flexible contracting vehicles that support accelerated prototyping and continuous advancement. Rescinding these outdated processes will enable the DoD to better attract nontraditional vendors and foster true innovation. Investing strategically and at scale in ground counter-UAS technologies and robotics is not optional—it is a necessary hedge against tomorrow’s threats and a critical step toward building resilient, adaptive ground forces.”
(Image: AUVSI)
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2025 Drone & AAM Policy Symposium: Michael Robbins Keynote Remarks
