FAA and EASA Collaborate to Address BVLOS Drone Operations Challenges
- Published
- Source
- Dronelife.com
The FAA and EASA are navigating different regulatory paths for advanced drone operations, particularly for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights. While Europe has implemented the U-space framework to facilitate complex drone operations, the U.S. has focused on initiatives like the Integration Pilot Program and the BEYOND program to test BVLOS capabilities. Both regions face similar challenges in scaling these operations despite their differing regulatory approaches.
The significance of this collaboration lies in the shared goal of enhancing safety and operational efficiency in drone traffic management. The FAA's move towards Part 108 aims to create a more standardized regulatory environment for BVLOS operations, while EASA's Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) methodology emphasizes risk evaluation tailored to specific flight scenarios. This alignment in safety objectives highlights the potential for harmonization between U.S. and European drone regulations.
Looking ahead, the ongoing discussions between U.S. and European regulators, such as those at the Commercial UAV Expo, will be crucial in shaping the future of BVLOS operations. As both regions work towards routine BVLOS flights, stakeholders should monitor developments in regulatory frameworks and risk assessment methodologies that could impact the drone industry on a global scale.
Original report
Beyond Part 108: FAA and EASA See Collaboration as Key to Scaling BVLOS
Dronelife.com · Miriam McNabbThis briefing is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting and is provided for industry information and news discovery. The original report and source publication are credited and linked where applicable. RobotToday does not claim ownership of third-party source material.
Rights concerns? Contact [email protected] with the relevant URL and details. We will review the matter and take appropriate action where warranted.
More related news
-
1
RobotToday Weekly October 12 – 16, 2026 RobotToday · 3 days ago
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
Related Suppliers
AirHub
Netherlands
Netherlands drone-software company founded 2016; runs the AirHub Drone Operations Center used by Dubai Police, Belgian Federal Police and Shell.
AirWise Solutions
United States
Tulsa, Oklahoma software company whose fleet-agnostic platform manages public-safety drone missions end-to-end, fusing ADS-B, Remote ID, RF, and radar data.
Holy Stone
United States
US-market consumer drone brand selling GPS/4K camera drones from mini indoor models to the HS900 Pro, positioned against DJI's beginner lineup.
NTT e-Drone Technology
Japan
NTT East subsidiary developing domestically produced Japanese agricultural and industrial drones for spraying, inspection, and surveying.
Elsight
Israel
Ramat Gan, Israel firm founded 2009 and ASX-listed; its Halo bonds cellular, radio and satellite links for BVLOS drones, used by 100+ UAV makers.
Donecle S.A.S.
France
French drone startup offering autonomous UAV systems for aircraft exterior inspection, certified by Airbus, Boeing, EASA, and FAA, operating in 15 countries.
AVISION Robotics
United Kingdom
US-based drone airspace infrastructure and UTM/U-space solutions provider for public safety and commercial drone operations.
Unifly NV
Belgium
Antwerp, Belgium UTM software company founded 2015 as a VITO spin-off; its platform runs 8 live deployments and has validated over 5 million drone flights.
ANRA Technologies
United States
ANRA Technologies, founded in 2015, builds UTM software that supported over 55,000 monthly commercial BVLOS drone operations in the US by mid-2026.
Mosaic ATM
United States
Aviation data analytics and software company specializing in air traffic management, drone UTM, and Advanced Air Mobility systems.
Outrider
Colorado maker of battery-electric autonomous yard trucks whose patented robotic arm connects trailer brake and electrical lines without a driver.
Ventus Geospatial
Canada
Ventus Geospatial (formerly Isis Geophysics) is a Canadian UAV survey company specializing in aerial mapping, geophysical surveying, and GIS data.
Robotics needs a service framework.
RSF defines a common language for robot service capability, lifecycle operations, certification pathways, and service-provider networks.
Join the RobotToday community on LinkedIn
Daily robotics news, in-depth analysis, conference highlights, and discussions with professionals worldwide.
