A new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposal could mark a turning point for commercial drone operations across the United States, especially in agriculture. Released by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the 731-page rule seeks to simplify certifications for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone flights, removing the current need for operators to request individual waivers or exemptions.

The rule would streamline operations for drones used in agriculture, aerial surveying, package delivery, public safety, and recreational activities. Instead of navigating a waiver system that FAA admits is time- and resource-intensive, operators would follow a standardized regulatory path.

Under the proposal, operations deemed lower risk could qualify for permits through a quicker review process. Higher-risk activities, including those involving larger aircraft or urban airspace, would undergo deeper evaluation before receiving certificates.

The agricultural sector has already embraced drone technology-over 1,700 agricultural operator certificates were issued before the rule's release. The FAA now aims to offer a regulatorywork that supports this momentum. Drones are increasingly used for spraying, aerial seeding, crop monitoring, and soil analysis, making a faster path to BVLOS licensing critical.

Matt Beckwith, president of advocacy group The New Advocate, highlighted the importance of this shift. "The FAA has started to figure out how to handle drone spraying," he said, adding that while agriculture stands to benefit, other sectors still lack clear rules.

Currently, each BVLOS petition is reviewed manually, often causing delays. The new rule introduces awork that uses industry consensus standards to define operational and safety protocols. These standards would cover manufacturing, maintenance, pilot responsibilities, and system design.

Arthur Erickson, CEO of drone firm Hylio, called the current process "narrow and tedious." He believes the proposal allows for a kind of blanket license-a single authorization for compliant BVLOS operations, renewed periodically rather than granted per flight. "You just get this license once... then you're good to go," he said.

The FAA's plan includes staffing two critical roles: an operations supervisor, responsible for overall safety and compliance, and a flight coordinator, tasked with real-time flight management. Notably, neither role requires a formal pilot certificate.

Operators would also need to understand airspace restrictions, mitigate flight path hazards, and maintain communication protocols. For multi-drone missions, the agency would evaluate proposals individually.

The rule imposes population-based operational limits, granting greater freedom in rural areas but stricter controls near populated zones. This could prove frustrating for some ag operators near urban fringes.

While agricultural drone companies largely support the rule, some manned aircraft pilots are voicing safety concerns. Hugh Cundiff of the North Carolina Aviation Association warned of potential "blind hazards" when drones fly near low-flying spray planes.

Paul Deal, a North Dakota ag pilot, emphasized the risks of allowing drones to operate near shielded areas-infrastructure like pipelines or powerlines-without ADS-B or other detect-and-avoid systems. "It's very difficult or impossible to detect a small UAS with the human eye," Deal noted, adding that this rule would reverse lostanding FAA priorities that give right-of-way to less maneuverable manned aircraft.

The proposed rule would address key mandates from the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, including directives to establish a consistent, scalable system for routine BVLOS operations. As U.S. drone use continues to rise-especially in agriculture-the FAA's approach may define airspace norms for years to come.

By creating clearer, faster paths for drone certification, the FAA hopes to unleash American drone dominance in sectors critical to food production, infrastructure, logistics, and environmental monitoring.