Pilots Express Concerns With Part 108 Drone Proposal

AOPA, ALPA, and other groups feel the FAA is not hearing their worries about risk elevation.

Jack Daleo

Friday, October 10, 2025 at 02:34 PM ET

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Jack Daleo

There is a stark divide between pilots and commercial drone operators, such as Wing, when it comes to the FAA’s proposed Part 108 rule. [Courtesy: Wing]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA's proposed Part 108 rule aims to establish a framework for routine commercial Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations, including in controlled airspace.
Pilot organizations vehemently oppose the proposal, citing heightened safety risks due to provisions that would grant drones right-of-way over crewed aircraft in specific airspaces, along with concerns about inadequate drone detect-and-avoid capabilities and less stringent operator training.
The proposal has generated over a million comments, reflecting significant opposition from pilots who feel their concerns were dismissed, and even criticism from the drone industry regarding certain prescriptive requirements and security assessments. The FAA is now reviewing these comments before finalizing the rule.

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The FAA has spent more than four years developing regulations for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flight. Its publication of a proposed Part 108 rule in August marked its largest step toward opening the floodgates for commercial drone delivery, inspection, and any number of missions outside the direct view of the operator—including in controlled airspace.

But pilots represented by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), and other groups fear the proposal elevates risk to crewed aircraft.