Zipline is seeing its uncrewed aircraft systems take on a wide variety of missions. [Credit: Zipline]
Key Takeaways:
The FAA's Part 107 rule significantly expanded commercial drone use but its visual line of sight (VLOS) limitation restricts scalability, leading to the proposed Part 108.
Part 108 aims to enable widespread Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations, unlocking substantial opportunities for applications like agriculture, delivery, and public safety by removing range restrictions.
Despite its potential, Part 108 faces strong criticism from manned aviation groups and some drone industry stakeholders concerning safety, particularly controversial right-of-way provisions for drones, equipage requirements, and the FAA's capacity for effective enforcement and oversight.
The FAA’s Part 107 rule regulating small uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, opened up new career opportunities for aviators, of whom nearly half a million have secured Part 107 remote pilot certification.
According to Dacoda Bartels, chief operating officer of drone services provider (DSP) FlyGuys, Part 107 also created a “monster.”
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
![Zipline is seeing its uncrewed aircraft systems take on a wide variety of missions. [Credit: Zipline]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/FLY0526_Modern-Flying-1.jpeg)
