Transportation Department Docket FAA-2025-1908 Proposed Rule

2025-18873: Normalizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations; Denial of Extension of Comment Period

Get alerted when the next rule lands

New rules open for comment on their own schedule. Pick how you want to hear about them — we email you when one appears.

Alert me on new Transportation Department rules or alert me on a subject

Publishing to members? Embed a live rule tracker on your own site — the proposed rules in your area and the comment deadlines closing on them, updating themselves. Free, one line of HTML.

Create a free account & build one →

Summary

This action denies requests for extension of the comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled "Normalizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations" that was published in the Federal Register on August 7, 2025.

The agency’s own summary, as published.

The rule, in full

595 words as published, September 29, 2025. View the original →

Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 186 (Monday, September 29, 2025) [Federal Register Volume 90, Number 186 (Monday, September 29, 2025)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 46532-46533] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2025-18873] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Parts 36, 43, 45, 48, 89, 91, 107, 108, 119, 133, 135, 137, and 146 [Docket No. FAA-2025-1908; Notice No. 25-07A] RIN 2120-AL82 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Transportation Security Administration 49 CFR Parts 1540 and 1544 RIN 1652-AA80 Normalizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations; Denial of Extension of Comment Period

Agency

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT); Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Action

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); Denial of extension of comment period. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary

This action denies requests for extension of the comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled ``Normalizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations'' that was published in the Federal Register on August 7, 2025.

Dates

September 29, 2025.

Addresses

The docket for the NPRM is available at https://www.regulations.gov/ under docket number FAA-2025-1908.

For Further Information Contact

Michelle Ferritto, ARM-100, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20592; Phone: 844 359-6982; Email: [email protected].

Supplementary Information

On August 7, 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) published a NPRM titled ``Normalizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations'' in the Federal Register (90 FR 38212; FAA Notice No. 25-07). In that document, FAA and TSA proposed performance-based regulations to enable the design and operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) at low altitudes beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) and for third-party services, including UAS Traffic Management, that support these operations. Congress directed the rapid development of this proposed rule in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 knowing that it is needed to support the integration of UAS into the national airspace system. The comment period for the NPRM closes at the end of October 6, 2025. Denial of Extension of Comment Period Since publication of the NPRM, FAA has received two requests for extension of the comment period. Michael Ravnitsky \1\ asked for an extension of ``10 days, or to provide a 20-day opportunity for reply comments.'' Sky Sail Balloons \2\ requested a general extension of the comment period and suggested that FAA subdivide the rule for comment by area of concern. FAA and TSA have considered and hereby deny these requests. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Comment from Michael Ravnitsky, Docket FAA-2025-1908-0025, Aug. 12, 2025. \2\ Comment from Sky Sail Balloons, Docket FAA-2025-1908-0065, Aug. 22, 2025. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- On June 6, 2025, the President issued Executive Order 14307, ``Unleashing American Drone Dominance'', which instructed FAA to publish a final rule within 240 days, as appropriate. Meeting that deadline will require extraordinary measures that do not make it practicable to extend the comment period or subdivide the NPRM into separate rulemakings. While FAA and TSA recognize the importance of the proposed rule, the agencies find the 60-day comment period provides ample opportunity for commenters to submit complete and thoughtful comments. Accordingly, FAA and TSA decline to grant the extension requests and the comment period will close at the end of October 6, 2025. Issued under authority provided by 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 114, [[Page 46533]] 44701, 44901, and 44903(b) in Washington, DC. Brandon Roberts, Executive Director, Office of Rulemaking, Federal Aviation Administration. Susan Tashiro, Acting Executive Assistant Administrator, Operations Support, Transportation Security Administration. [FR Doc. 2025-18873 Filed 9-26-25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

What this changes

Amends 15 parts of the Code of Federal Regulations — the standing rules this notice rewrites.

Don't miss the comment window

One Click Politics alerts you on every deadline, hearing, and rule change.

See all rules with comments due soon →