FAA Approves Unobserved Drone Flights in Dallas Airspace

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has authorized multiple operators to conduct commercial drone flights without visual observers in Dallas, Texas airpace. This decision allows Zipline International and Wing Aviation to perform deliveries while ensuring their drones are safely separated using advanced Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) technology.

Typically, drone operations require pilots to maintain visual contact with their aircraft. However, recent advancements in air traffic management technologies and procedures are paving the way for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations to become routine. The UTM system facilitates this by enabling companies to share data and planned flight routes with other authorized airspace users. This collaborative approach ensures that drone operators can manage their flights safely and efficiently in shared airspace.

The FAA's decision allows all drone flights to occur below an altitude of 400 feet and mandates that these flights avoid any interaction with crewed aircraft. The agency anticipates that the initial BVLOS flights using UTM technology will commence in August 2024, with additional authorizations expected to follow soon in the Dallas region.

This regulatory milestone is part of a broader initiative by the FAA to integrate drone technology into the national airspace system. The agency is actively working on the release of the Normalizing UAS BVLOS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). This upcoming NPRM aims to provide a framework for expanding drone operations while ensuring safety standards comparable to those of traditional aviation.

“We are on track to release the NPRM this year, following strong Congressional support in the recent FAA reauthorization,” the FAA stated.