Drone Delivery and BVLOS

See why BVLOS decides whether services grow

A delivery route of any useful length takes the aircraft out of the remote pilot's direct view, which is why beyond visual line of sight, or BVLOS, permission decides whether a service can expand. The FAA has proposed a dedicated rule for these flights, and the EU already offers set routes to approval within its specific category. When you compare aircraft such as the Wing Drone or the Drone Delivery Canada Sparrow, ask which BVLOS approvals the maker or its operating partners already hold, in which countries and on what conditions. An aircraft with an approval history in similar airspace can shorten your own application, while a new type may need more evidence.

Track the FAA's proposed BVLOS rule

The FAA's BVLOS fact sheet describes a proposed rule with two routes: permits for lower-risk operations with limited fleet size, weight and scope, and certificates for higher-risk operations. Package delivery is among the uses it lists. The proposal would allow certain aircraft to weigh up to 1,320 pounds including everything they carry, sets out five categories of operations over people based on population density, and has drones yield to crewed aircraft broadcasting their position by ADS-B. Operators would use automated data service providers to keep drones separated. Because the fact sheet describes a proposal, confirm the rule's current status with the FAA before relying on any detail.

Use Europe's specific category routes

In the EU, flights beyond visual line of sight fall into the specific category, which EASA's guide to the UAS regulation describes as operations exceeding the limits of the open category. The national aviation authority issues an operational authorisation after a risk assessment, usually built with the Specific Operations Risk Assessment, or SORA, whose result sets an assurance and integrity level. A standard scenario and a predefined risk assessment cover some BVLOS flights below 120 metres over sparsely populated areas, and holders of a Light UAS Operator Certificate can authorise certain operations themselves. Routes over towns fall outside those sparsely populated cases, so expect a full assessment.

Prepare for U-space and ground operations

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/664 sets the regulatory framework for U-space, the EU's system for managing drone traffic in designated airspace. Ask your national authority whether U-space airspace is planned along your routes, since it changes how flights are authorised and tracked. On the ground, plan the loading point, charging and battery storage, a safe lowering or landing spot at each customer, and a procedure for a lost link or a forced landing. Brief residents and local councils before the first flights, because concerns about noise and privacy are easier to settle early than after a service has started.

Sources and further reading

• Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) fact sheet — Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
  FAA summary of its proposed BVLOS rule: permits and certificates, aircraft weight, population categories and right of way.
• The European UAS Regulation: specific category — European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
  EASA explainer on specific category flights, SORA, standard scenarios, PDRA and the Light UAS Operator Certificate.
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/664 on a regulatory framework for the U-space — EUR-Lex, European Union.
  The EU regulation creating U-space, the framework for managing drone traffic in designated airspace.

Common questions

Do delivery drone operators need a pilot licence?

The FAA's BVLOS fact sheet says the key operating roles in its proposed rule would not require an FAA airman or remote pilot certificate. In the EU, competence requirements come with the category and the authorisation, so check what your authority expects of your crew.

Can I fly delivery drones across a border in Europe?

Yes, but EASA's guide to the UAS regulation says a cross-border operation needs approval from both the authority of the state of registration and the authority of the state where you fly. Allow time for both reviews in your launch plan.