2 Rules Under Review Could Reshape U.S. Commercial Drone Operations

Industry for years has clamored for the regulations, believing they will open the floodgates for UAV delivery and other services.

Jack Daleo

Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: Luke Venable

A Wing drone delivers a DoorDash order through the skies over Charlotte, North Carolina. [Courtesy: Wing]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. government's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is reviewing two critical FAA drone regulations, Part 108 and Section 2209, marking the final step before public comment.
Part 108 is designed to "open the floodgates" for commercial drone operations by allowing Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights without waivers, significantly expanding services like delivery and inspection.
Section 2209 aims to balance innovation with security by allowing sensitive facilities to apply for drone-specific flight restrictions, ensuring that trusted drones can operate while others are excluded.
Industry stakeholders view both regulations as interdependent and crucial for scaling commercial drone operations, fostering profitability, and maintaining the U.S. as a leader in drone technology.

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WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. government’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is reviewing a pair of regulations that could open the floodgates for commercial drone operations nationwide.

The Department of Transportation this month announced that Secretary Sean Duffy submitted the FAA’s highly anticipated proposals for Part 108 and Section 2209 to OIRA. The OIRA interagency review is the final step before the proposed rules—which have languished in regulatory limbo for years—are published in the Federal Register for public comment.