Part 108 Explained: What BVLOS Means for Your Drone Career

Last September, a tower inspector in West Texas got a phone call that changed his business. A wind farm operator wanted thermal scans on 47 turbines. The catch? Half of them sat beyond a ridge line. No way to keep eyes on the drone from the launch point.

Under current Part 107 rules, that job requires a waiver. A waiver that takes 90 days to process. The client needed results in two weeks. He turned the job down.

That is the problem Part 108 aims to fix. And if the FAA keeps its current timeline, the final rule could land by mid-2026.

What Part 108 Actually Is

Part 108 is a new section of Federal Aviation Regulations. It covers Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. Right now, Part 107 says you must keep your drone within your visual line of sight at all times. Part 108 will create a framework for flying beyond that limit without needing an individual waiver.

The FAA published its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in late 2024. The comment period closed in early 2025 with over 3,700 responses. The agency is now drafting the final rule. Industry watchers expect it sometime between June and September 2026.

Three Flight Categories Under Part 108

The proposed rule creates three categories based on risk level:

• 1Category 1 — Low Risk. Flights over rural or sparsely populated areas. The drone stays below 400 feet. No flights over people who are not involved in the operation. This is the category most inspection pilots will use first.
• 2Category 2 — Medium Risk. Flights over suburban or moderately populated areas. Requires a detect-and-avoid (DAA) system. The drone must be able to sense and dodge other aircraft, birds, and obstacles without the pilot seeing them.
• 3Category 3 — Higher Risk. Flights over urban areas, near airports, or in controlled airspace. Requires the most advanced equipment and the strictest operational procedures. Think package delivery in a city.

New Roles BVLOS Will Create

Part 108 does not just change where you can fly. It creates new jobs that do not exist today:

• Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC). The person who monitors the drone from a ground control station. This role already exists under Part 107, but BVLOS adds new requirements around monitoring equipment and communication procedures.
• Ground Observer. A person stationed along the flight path who watches for hazards and relays information to the RPIC. Category 1 operations may require ground observers in certain conditions. This is a new paid position.
• DAA System Operator. Someone who monitors the detect-and-avoid system in real time. Required for Category 2 and 3 operations. This role needs specialized training that does not exist yet in most programs.
• Flight Operations Manager. For larger BVLOS operations, someone who coordinates multiple drones, multiple pilots, and airspace deconfliction. Think air traffic control, but for drone fleets.

What This Means for Your Part 107 Certificate

Your Part 107 does not go away. The proposed rule says you need a current Part 107 certificate as a baseline. Then you add BVLOS-specific training on top of it. Think of it like a commercial driver adding a hazmat endorsement to their CDL.

The exact training requirements are still being finalized. But the NPRM outlined knowledge areas including: BVLOS-specific weather, DAA system operation, lost-link procedures, communication protocols, and emergency response for flights you cannot see.

Keeping your Part 107 current is step one. If your recurrency lapses before Part 108 goes live, you will not be eligible for the BVLOS add-on until you fix it.

Industries That Will Hire First

Some industries have been waiting years for BVLOS. They will move fast once the rule is final:

• Energy and Utilities. Power line inspections, pipeline surveys, and wind turbine checks. These assets stretch for miles. BVLOS eliminates the need for dozens of launch-and-land cycles on a single job.
• Agriculture. Crop spraying and field mapping over large farms. Companies like Rantizo already hold BVLOS waivers for spraying operations. A general rule will let smaller operators compete.
• Package Delivery. Zipline, Wing, and Amazon Prime Air are all operating under limited approvals. Part 108 Category 3 would give them a standard path to scale.
• Public Safety. Search and rescue, wildfire monitoring, and disaster response. Agencies already stretch the rules during emergencies. Part 108 will give them a legal framework for routine BVLOS missions.

How to Prepare Right Now

The rule is not final yet. But you do not have to wait to get ready:

• 1Keep your Part 107 current. This is non-negotiable. Use DroneLog107 to track your deadline and get reminders before it sneaks up on you.
• 2Learn detect-and-avoid basics. Read the ASTM F38 standards. Watch webinars from the FAA UAS Symposium. Familiarize yourself with the technology before training programs launch.
• 3Build VLOS experience in your target industry. If you want BVLOS energy work, start doing VLOS tower inspections now. The pilots who already know the industry will be first in line for BVLOS jobs.
• 4Log your flights. When BVLOS training programs start, they may require proof of minimum VLOS flight hours. Keep detailed records now so you are ready.

The Bottom Line

Part 108 is the biggest expansion of commercial drone operations since Part 107 launched in 2016. It will open new revenue streams, create new jobs, and reshape the industry. But it only helps pilots who are ready for it.

That means keeping your certificate current, building hours, and paying attention as the final rule takes shape. The pilots who prepare now will be the ones who get the BVLOS contracts first.

Want to make sure your Part 107 is ready when Part 108 drops? Track it free with DroneLog107.

Already studying for your initial test? Check out our Part 107 study guide to pass on your first try.