Part 108 readiness

Part 108 Timeline: Where the BVLOS Rule Stands

Last updated July 19, 2026. Every entry is a verifiable public event; this page changes when milestones move, not on a schedule.

Status: the final rule is NOT out. The comment windows are closed, the executive-order target of roughly March 2026 has slipped, and as of July 2026 expectations among practitioners range from imminent to another one or two years. Substantial changes from the draft are widely expected.

The dated log

  • May 2024FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (§§930/932) mandates BVLOS rulemaking.
  • July 2024FAA issues ADSP letters of acceptance to Zipline and Wing, prefiguring the Part 146 framework.
  • June 2025Executive Order 14307 starts a 240-day final-rule clock.
  • August 7, 2025NPRM published: "Normalizing UAS Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations" (docket FAA-2025-1908), proposing Part 108 (operations) and Part 146 (Automated Data Service Providers).
  • September 2025FAA denies requests to extend the comment period.
  • October 6, 2025Main comment period closes.
  • January 6, 2026FAA holds industry listening sessions.
  • January 28 – February 11, 2026Narrow comment reopening on electronic-conspicuity topics; closes February 11.
  • ~March 2026The EO 14307 target window for a final rule passes without publication.
  • July 2026Final rule still pending. Practitioner expectations range from imminent to 2027–2028 planning assumptions at some operators.

What to watch next

Three things resolve the remaining uncertainty: the final rule itself; the transition provisions inside it (the question every waiver holder is asking); and the advisory-circular and technical-appendix cycles that follow, which carry the compliance detail and their own comment processes. When the final rule publishes, this page gets the entry, and every page in our Part 108 series gets re-verified against the final text.

While the rule settles, the operational layer is buildable today: live drone video on any network.

FAQ

Is the Part 108 final rule out?

No. As of July 2026 the final rule has not been published. The executive-order target of roughly March 2026 has slipped, and practitioner expectations range from imminent to another one or two years.

Can I still comment on Part 108?

No. The main comment period closed October 6, 2025 (an extension was denied), and the narrow reopening on electronic-conspicuity topics closed February 11, 2026. Remaining input channels are the advisory-circular and technical-appendix cycles, which carry their own comment processes, and petitions after the final rule.

Will the final rule match the proposal?

Substantial changes from the draft are widely expected given the volume and weight of comments, particularly on transition provisions. Treat every summary of the proposed rule, including ours, as provisional until the final text lands.

How current is this page?

The dated log above is updated when milestones actually move. Every entry is a verifiable public event, not a prediction.

Sources

Federal Register notices for the NPRM, the denial of extension, and the electronic-conspicuity reopening (docket FAA-2025-1908); FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024; Executive Order 14307; industry coverage and practitioner-community discussion as of July 19, 2026.

This page is for general orientation and may not reflect the latest regulatory changes. It is not legal advice: confirm current rules, fees, and permitted zones with your country's civil aviation authority before you fly.