Beyond Line of Sight: Why BVLOS is the Future of Commercial Drone Operations

If you’re working in or watching the drone industry, you’ve likely heard the acronym BVLOS again and again. Short for Beyond Visual Line of Sight, it’s more than just a regulatory buzzword—it’s the key to unlocking the full commercial potential of drones.

While current operations often require drone pilots to maintain visual contact with their aircraft, BVLOS opens the door to longer, more efficient, and more autonomous missions. In this post, we’ll break down what BVLOS really means, why it matters, who it’s impacting most, and what it takes to be BVLOS-ready in 2025 and beyond.

What Is BVLOS and Why It Matters

BVLOS refers to drone operations conducted beyond the pilot’s direct visual line of sight. In contrast to VLOS (Visual Line of Sight) and EVLOS (Extended Visual Line of Sight, often with spotters), BVLOS flights allow for extended missions that cover vast distances—without the need for human observers tracking the UAV from the ground.

Why does that matter? Because it transforms the economics and logistics of drone use. BVLOS allows:

• Linear inspections over pipelines, power lines, and railways

• Remote monitoring in rural, forested, or hazardous areas

• Wide-area surveillance for public safety and environmental protection

• Autonomous delivery or logistics across remote supply chains

In short, BVLOS removes the leash. It enables drones to replace crewed aircraft and ground-based inspection teams at a fraction of the cost.

Industries Most Impacted by BVLOS Expansion

The benefits of BVLOS capabilities are particularly profound in industries where coverage, reach, and endurance matter. Key sectors include:

1. Energy and Utilities

Inspecting hundreds of miles of pipelines or transmission lines can take days with manned crews or VLOS drones. BVLOS UAVs can perform these tasks faster and with higher-frequency data collection, improving safety and operational uptime.

2. Border Security and Defense

BVLOS operations are ideal for border surveillance and reconnaissance missions, where persistent aerial presence across remote terrain is crucial.

3. Telecommunications

Drones can monitor and inspect 5G and legacy telecom towers. BVLOS enables companies to monitor networks across entire regions without needing multiple ground crews.

4. Agriculture

With BVLOS, a drone can scan thousands of acres in one flight, delivering multispectral imagery and data for precision farming without manual intervention.

5. Disaster Response

In wildfire, flood, or search-and-rescue scenarios, BVLOS drones extend situational awareness and help teams coordinate responses beyond the visible horizon.

Regulatory Progress Around the World

Until recently, BVLOS operations required case-by-case approval in many countries. That’s changing.

United States (FAA)

The FAA continues to expand its BVLOS permissions through waiver programs and pilot projects like BEYOND and the UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP). While full-scale regulation is still evolving, major steps have been taken with “shielded operations,” rulemaking for detect-and-avoid systems, and expanded airspace integration trials.

Canada

Canada leads North America in BVLOS maturity. Transport Canada allows routine BVLOS in some scenarios, including for specific energy and mining applications.

Europe (EASA)

The European Union’s EASA has created a framework for risk-based assessments under the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) model, which supports BVLOS flights with clear guidelines on mitigation and equipment.

LATAM & APAC

Countries like Brazil, Australia, and Japan are embracing BVLOS faster in rural and infrastructure-heavy sectors, offering fewer urban airspace complexities and more industrial incentive.

Tech Stack for Safe BVLOS Operations

BVLOS isn’t just a regulatory matter—it’s a technical challenge. Operators need a sophisticated, integrated stack to fly safely and legally.

1. Long-Range Communications

LTE, SATCOM, and RF-based IP links provide real-time telemetry, command & control, and live video over vast distances.

2. Detect-and-Avoid (DAA)

To operate beyond sight, drones must autonomously detect and avoid other aircraft. Solutions include radar, optical sensors, ADS-B receivers, and systems like Casia by Iris Automation.

3. Autonomy and Redundancy

BVLOS drones must respond to unpredictable situations: GPS loss, weather, or comms outages. Redundant autopilots, AI-driven flight logic, and failsafe behaviors are essential.

4. Cloud Integration

Real-time data upload and flight monitoring help teams manage assets from centralized locations, especially during extended or multi-drone missions.

Risk Management and Safety Framework

To fly BVLOS safely, operators must demonstrate they can manage:

• Airspace deconfliction

• Emergency response protocols

• System reliability and performance

• Operator training and compliance

Risk assessment tools like SORA in Europe and FAA’s Operational Risk Assessment play a critical role in obtaining permissions and designing safe systems.

How to Prepare for BVLOS Operations

Thinking about going BVLOS? Here’s how to start:

1. Assess Your Mission Scope: Is the value of BVLOS justified by the coverage area, time savings, or safety improvements?

2. Choose the Right Aircraft: Not all drones are BVLOS-capable. Look for systems with long-range communication, autonomy, and DAA support.

3. Build Your Safety Case: Whether using SORA or FAA waiver frameworks, you’ll need detailed plans showing risk mitigation.

4. Engage Regulators Early: Successful programs often include regulators in the planning and testing phases.

5. Invest in Pilot & Team Training: Even the most autonomous systems need highly trained crews to oversee operations.

Conclusion

BVLOS is not just the future—it’s the inflection point. As regulations evolve and technology advances, more organizations will unlock the ability to run smarter, safer, and more scalable operations with drones.

Whether you’re in utilities, defense, research, or logistics, planning for a BVLOS-ready future should be part of your strategy today.

Want to learn more about long-range, BVLOS-capable drones?

Visit appliedaeronautics.com to explore fixed-wing UAV solutions designed for real-world industrial missions.