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

Verified

Edited By:

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 enable widespread beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations for commercial purposes, including in controlled airspace.
Pilot organizations (AOPA, ALPA, etc.) strongly oppose the proposal, citing major safety concerns, particularly regarding drones being granted right-of-way over crewed aircraft in certain airspaces, insufficient detect-and-avoid capabilities for drones, and relaxed training/oversight for drone operators.
Pilots contend their concerns were largely ignored during the rulemaking process, arguing the proposal disproportionately favors the drone industry and elevates risk to traditional aviation.
The FAA received over 1 million comments, highlighting a significant divide between pilot and drone industry perspectives, and must now reconcile these divergent views before finalizing the rule.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.