Decoding FAA Part 108
- Manasa Kavya
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Most professionals encounter this moment at some point in their careers. You open a document filled with dense legal language, determined to read it end to end, only to find that the complexity and monotone prose make sustained focus difficult. It often leaves one wondering whether the same information could be conveyed more simply, without losing its substance, and in a way that actually holds the reader’s attention. The answer is yes. It can be done.
The key lies in changing the form, not the facts. When complex material is shaped into a narrative, given a clear flow, clarity naturally follows. What emerges is not a diluted version of the content, but a more accessible and engaging one that invites the reader to continue.
In this article, this approach is applied to the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) for BVLOS of the FAA, in an attempt to make the regulatory framework easier to understand and more relatable.
What is it all about?
The FAA’s proposed rule, called Part 108, supporting the integration of UAS into the National Airspace System (NAS), is about extending drone activities to go Beyond Visual Line of Sight, without putting people or airplanes at risk. Instead of asking for special permission every time, Part 108 creates a clear and repeatable rulebook for these longer flights. Under Part 108, drones would usually fly below 400 feet and inside approved areas. Operators must tell the FAA where and how often they plan to fly. The drones must share their location, avoid other aircraft, and use smart digital systems that help everyone stay safely separated.
Let’s now look at it in more detail
Autonomous operations change the very idea of how drones are flown. There is no pilot actively controlling the aircraft. Instead, operations are managed by supervisors and coordinators. There is no pilot in the loop, which makes Simplified User Interaction essential.
Coordinators are expected to have a defined number of hours of experience on the specific make and model they manage. Supervisors, on the other hand, may qualify through formal training, prior experience, or demonstrated expertise. Like other aviation roles, personnel are also subject to rest requirements and limits on working hours to ensure safe decision making.
Becoming an operator is less about flying skill and more about operational readiness. The process starts with documentation, identification of key personnel, and a clear definition of the types of missions being conducted.
Operations are broadly divided into permitted and certified categories.
Permitted operations cover simpler, lower risk missions and are typically valid for two years. These come with limits on all up weight, fleet size, population density, and may require additional approvals depending on the use case.
Certified operations are designed for more complex and higher risk missions. These demand a deeper level of preparation, including structured training programs, detailed risk assessments, a formal Safety Management System, and well defined operational procedures. The focus shifts from individual flights to system level safety and consistency.
The aircraft itself must meet specific regulatory expectations. Manufacturers are responsible for airworthiness acceptance, and many safety features are built directly into the design. These include lighting for night operations, aircraft style lights for larger wingspans, system redundancies, limits on weight, wingspan, and maximum speed, as well as cybersecurity safeguards. Aircraft must also undergo extensive testing, often exceeding 150 hours, before being approved for autonomous use.
Operational scale introduces another layer of planning. Regulations define how many aircraft a single coordinator can manage at once, ensuring workloads remain realistic and safe. Many operations also rely on automated data service providers or third party Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) services. These systems support detect and avoid functions, traffic awareness, and coordination with other airspace users.
Equipment becomes essential to support safe autonomy. Detect and avoid systems help prevent midair conflicts. Strategic deconfliction ensures flight plans do not overlap dangerously. Conformance monitoring checks that aircraft are flying exactly where and how they are supposed to.
Just as drivers on the road know who has the right of way at an intersection, aircraft and unmanned vehicles follow predefined airspace hierarchies. Drones, crewed aircraft, air taxis, and vehicles broadcasting ADS B Out all operate under the same shared logic.
Where a drone can fly depends heavily on how populated the area is. Regions are categorized based on population density, with increasing restrictions as risk increases. Shielded operations, such as flights near power lines or pipelines, are possible but require permission from the infrastructure owner.
Conclusion
This was a small part of the NPRM. By the time you reach the end, a pattern begins to emerge. None of the rules stand alone. Each one plays a quiet but essential role in shaping a system where autonomous flight is no longer an experiment, but a dependable part of everyday operations. Together, they replace improvisation with structure and replace uncertainty with intent.
What the FAA is outlining is not simply permission to fly farther without seeing the aircraft. It is a transition in how unmanned aviation is understood. Pilots step back. Systems step forward. Supervision replaces constant control, and predefined rules take the place of real time guesswork. Airspace becomes something drones can share safely, not something they must work around.
As 2025 comes to a close, the industry stands in a moment of anticipation. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is still unfolding, but its direction is clear. With 2026 on the horizon, the focus shifts from proposals to permanence. What emerges will define how autonomous flight scales, how trust is built, and how the next chapter of aviation quietly takes off.
Meet Manasa Kavya, an aerospace engineer with a knack for aircraft design and making complex tech easy to understand and over four years experience in UAV design and development. Whether it's building a drone or breaking down how it works, Manasa brings hands-on experience and clear insight.
She’s passionate about making STEM fun and approachable. Her articles aim to do just that, mixing deep know-how with a simple, engaging style, exploring ideas, telling stories and making technical concepts more accessible.
