At Aloft, our mission has always been simple: to enable safe, compliant, and scalable access to the NAS for every operator. From recreational pilots to Part 107 commercial operators, to public safety agencies and government fleets — the Aloft community represents the largest cross-section of drone operators in America.
This week, we formally submitted our comments to the FAA on the NPRM for Normalizing BVLOS Operations (FAA-2025-1908). You can read our full public comment here.
These comments aren’t just Aloft’s. They reflect weeks of engagement with you — our customers, partners, and community. We hosted webinars, roundtables, and surveys. We listened to your concerns and aspirations. And it’s on behalf of all of you that we humbly submit this letter to the FAA.
Quick Takeaways from Our Comments
Here are the key themes and how we framed them to the FAA:
Manual & Hybrid BVLOS Operations:
“Most BVLOS flights today aren’t fully autonomous. They’re hybrid operations where automation and human control work together safely — and have been proven under thousands of waivers.”
Human-Based Mitigations:
“Visual observers, procedural separation, and pilot intervention aren’t ‘fallbacks’ — they are intentional, proven safety tools that should be codified in regulation.”
Population Density & UTM:
“There’s a problem with the data if towns of fewer than 100 people, like Zeeland, ND, are labeled Category 3 and require UTM. UTM should be required where air traffic actually exists — in controlled airspace — not in arbitrary population bubbles.”
Manufacturer vs Operator Responsibilities:
“Operators, not OEMs, should be responsible for reporting. That’s how aviation has always worked, and it’s the only way to scale equitably while protecting privacy.”
Part 146 (ADSPs):
“UTM is critical for the future of aviation. But FAA must play the same central role it has with LAANC — setting standards, auditing providers, and ensuring orderly market growth. Without FAA leadership, fragmentation risks safety.”
LAANC & Controlled Airspace:
“Part 108 must not come at the expense of LAANC. Millions of authorizations and hundreds of thousands of pilots depend on it. LAANC must be preserved for Part 107 and §44809.”
Digital Infrastructure:
“We already send the FAA million-row spreadsheets every month for B4UFLY reporting. That will not scale. We need API-based, automated compliance systems — like LAANC has proven — to make Part 108 work.”
Hardware Requirements:
“Today’s aircraft are safe and reliable. Thousands of BVLOS waivers have proven that. Don’t ground existing fleets with unnecessary new hardware mandates.”
Our Call to Action
Now it’s your turn. The FAA comment period is open for three more days, and every voice matters. We encourage you to submit your own comments, whether you are a recreational flyer, a public safety pilot, an enterprise program manager, or an OEM. You can even reference our filing if you wish.
Here’s the link to submit comments on https://www.regulations.gov/document/FAA-2025-1908-0023 — (search for docket FAA-2025-1908).
Thank You
These comments are a reflection of you — the Aloft community. We honor the time, input, and candid feedback so many of you shared with us. From webinars to roundtables to one-on-one conversations, your experiences shaped every word of our letter.
We humbly submit these comments to the FAA on your behalf. Together, we can ensure that the future of BVLOS reflects the realities of today, preserves safe access for all, and unlocks the skies for tomorrow.