DJI Warns BVLOS NPRM May Exclude Its Platforms — With Massive Implications for Customers
DJI’s Viewpoints: Assist for BVLOS, however Exclusion Considerations
In a latest Viewpoints weblog submit, DJI welcomed the FAA’s proposed Half 108 regulation for Past Visible Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, calling it an vital step towards enabling scalable drone operations. However the firm warned that, as presently drafted, the rule would exclude lots of right this moment’s most generally used platforms, together with DJI plane.
DJI factors to 2 major points within the FAA’s draft:
-
Nation of manufacture limitations. Airworthiness acceptance would solely be out there to U.S. producers or to these coated by a bilateral airworthiness settlement—agreements that don’t presently exist for unmanned plane. That successfully disqualifies DJI drones.
-
Overemphasis on automation. The draft framework favors extremely automated plane and will prohibit pilot-in-the-loop operations, sidelining most of the methods in use right this moment.
The corporate additionally raised issues about limits on 2.4/5.8 GHz C2 hyperlinks, new reporting burdens, and the potential return of site-specific approvals that Half 108 was meant to interchange. DJI urged operators and businesses to submit feedback to the FAA docket earlier than October 6, 2025.
What Half 108 Proposes
The FAA’s BVLOS NPRM, launched in August, outlines a brand new framework to interchange case-by-case waivers with a nationwide system of permits (for lower-risk operations) and working certificates (for higher-risk missions). The rule is designed to increase drone use in inspections, agriculture, public security, and supply whereas sustaining security within the Nationwide Airspace System.
For the FAA, Half 108 sits between Half 107 and conventional plane certification: a steadiness between innovation and oversight. However the particulars of eligibility—notably airworthiness acceptance—are among the many points which have sparked debate.
Why DJI’s Exclusion Issues
Whereas most massive supply firms, comparable to Zipline, Wing, and Amazon, function their very own proprietary plane, DJI platforms dominate the fleets of first responders, small companies, and infrastructure operators.
-
Market share. DJI nonetheless controls an estimated two-thirds or extra of the U.S. business drone market.
-
Public security reliance. Hearth departments, police businesses, and search-and-rescue groups throughout the nation depend upon DJI’s Matrice, Mavic, and different platforms for situational consciousness, catastrophe response, and emergency help.
If DJI drones are excluded from Half 108 approvals, these customers might be blocked from conducting routine BVLOS operations with the platforms they already personal and practice on. For resource-constrained public businesses, changing total fleets with various methods might be prohibitively costly and disruptive.
Different Business Views
DJI is just not alone in elevating issues.
-
AUVSI has argued that the NPRM doesn’t present a transparent transition path for operators already flying BVLOS underneath waivers.
-
The Business Drone Alliance praised the FAA for transferring ahead however emphasised that broad operator entry is vital if Half 108 is to scale the business.
-
Stakeholders at latest summits flagged the chance that an excessive amount of emphasis on superior automation may sluggish adoption in sectors the place less complicated BVLOS operations—like linear inspection or shielded flights—are already secure and efficient.
What Comes Subsequent
The FAA will now collect feedback earlier than finalizing the rule. The central debate will likely be whether or not airworthiness acceptance ought to be primarily based on efficiency and requirements compliance—or on nation of origin.
For DJI, and for 1000’s of first responders and business operators within the U.S., the end result may decide whether or not their present plane stay viable for BVLOS.
Learn extra:
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, knowledgeable drone companies market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone business and the regulatory surroundings for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles centered on the business drone area and is a global speaker and acknowledged determine within the business. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising for brand new applied sciences.
For drone business consulting or writing, E mail Miriam.
TWITTER:@spaldingbarker
Subscribe to DroneLife right here.
