BVLOS drone operations in United States

What the rules say

Each line is resolved from published facts of United States. "Not resolved" means the corpus does not answer it in a machine-checkable way — never that the law is silent.

• Legally possibleConditional
• Authorisation requiredConditional
• Authorisation typewaiverYes
• Aircraft requirementConditional
• Populated area pathwayConditional
• Operational limitationsNo
• ExceptionsConditional

What changes the answer

• other

  Cloud clearance horizontal at or above 2000 ft

• other

  Cloud clearance vertical at or above 500 ft

• other

  Groundspeed at or below 100 mph

• other

  Groundspeed at or below 87 kt

• altitude

  Flight altitude above 400 ft

• other

  Cloud clearance horizontal below 2000 ft

The rules behind this answer

• Binding lawNational rule

  Maximum Groundspeed

  The groundspeed of the small unmanned aircraft may not exceed 87 knots (100 miles per hour).

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Minimum Horizontal Distance from Clouds

  The minimum distance of the small unmanned aircraft from clouds must be no less than 2,000 feet horizontally from the cloud.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Minimum Vertical Distance from Clouds

  The minimum distance of the small unmanned aircraft from clouds must be no less than 500 feet below the cloud.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Visual Line of Sight Operation

  The aircraft must be flown within the visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft or a visual observer co-located and in direct communication with the operator.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Visual Line of Sight Requirement for Broadcast Module Operations

  The person manipulating the flight controls of the unmanned aircraft system must be able to see the unmanned aircraft at all times throughout the operation.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Visual Line of Sight Requirement for FRIA Operations

  The person manipulating the flight controls of the unmanned aircraft system must be able to see the unmanned aircraft at all times throughout the operation.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Waiver of Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) Requirements

  An operator may obtain a certificate of waiver to deviate from the visual line of sight requirements of § 107.31, except when carrying property of another for compensation or hire.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• GuidanceNational rule

  Additional Certification for Complex Drone Operations

  FAA guidance advises that operations beyond the standard Part 107 rules may need additional certification or approval.

  Open the requirementOfficial source

Official sources

• 14 CFR Part 48 - Registration and Marking Requirements for Small Unmanned Aircraft — Federal Aviation AdministrationOpen
• 49 U.S.C. 44809 - Exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft — Federal Aviation AdministrationOpen
• FAA guidance - Advanced operations (BVLOS and certification) — Federal Aviation AdministrationOpen

Known limitations

• Binding law and official guidance disagree on bvlos.operational_limitations; the binding position is published.
• 7 dimension(s) of this topic are not expressed in a machine-resolvable way by the published corpus and are reported UNKNOWN, never FALSE.

Other drone rules in United States

• Do I need to register my drone in United States?Registration in United States depends on the aircraft and the operation: it applies once the published conditions below are met, each cited to the rule that sets it.
• Do I need Remote ID in United States?Remote identification in United States is tied to the aircraft and the operating category: the published triggers below decide whether a flight must carry or broadcast an electronic identity.
• What is the maximum drone altitude in United States?Drone flights in United States are held to a published general height limit of 121.92 m AGL. The limit is not absolute: the published conditions that change it are cited below.
• Can I fly a drone near an airport in United States?Drone flights near aerodromes in United States are governed by airspace and aerodrome restrictions: whether permission is needed depends on the airspace, distance or aerodrome type published below.
• Can I fly a drone over people in United States?Flight over uninvolved people is treated as a higher-risk operation in United States: it is available only where the published conditions below — class, mass, separation or authorisation — are satisfied.
• Can I fly a drone at night in United States?Night flying in United States is regulated rather than simply allowed or banned: published lighting, category and authorisation conditions below decide whether a given flight may take place after dark.
• When does a drone operation need authorisation in United States?Whether an operation in United States needs prior authorisation depends on the operational category, risk class or location: the published triggers below decide it.
• What training do I need to fly a drone in United States?Remote pilot competency in United States scales with the operation: which training, examination or proof of competency applies is set by the published conditions below.

All drone laws in United States