FAA Part 108 Is Still at OIRA: A Realistic BVLOS Timeline for 2026–2027
Part 108 is the FAA's long-promised framework for routine beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations. It is not a final rule yet. Here is where the file sits, what a published rule would change, and how we are writing enterprise quotes until it lands.
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Where the rule sits today
The FAA sent its Part 108 package to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on July 10, 2026. OIRA review is the last administrative gate for economically significant rules. It is not a publication date, and it is not a guarantee of the draft's contents. You can confirm a rule's review status on reginfo.gov.
Industry coverage in early September — including reporting on closed-door TSA security discussions around the same file — treats Part 108 as close, not done. We will not put a "live by Q4" date on a customer quote until the Federal Register notice exists.
What Part 108 is supposed to do
Today, most US BVLOS work needs a Part 107 waiver, a Part 91 exemption or a combination of both. That process is slow and aircraft-specific. Part 108 is intended to create a standing set of operating rules — airworthiness, detect-and-avoid, personnel, and security — so routine linear inspection, package delivery and dock-based patrols do not each need a one-off grant.
Until it is published:
- Part 107 plus Remote ID remains the baseline for visual-line-of-sight commercial flights. See the FAA commercial operators page.
- BVLOS still needs the current waiver/exemption path described on the FAA BVLOS page.
- Buying hardware now is still rational if you will train, write procedures and fly VLOS or already-approved BVLOS while the rule finishes.
What we put on a remote-ops quote
For DJI Matrice 400, DJI Matrice 4E / DJI Matrice 4T dock packages and DJI FlyCart 30 cargo trials, ASI Computer itemises aircraft, batteries, charging or dock, payloads, radios, DJI Care Enterprise and training. We do not treat Part 108 as an included entitlement. If your RFP assumes a 2026 BVLOS start date, say so on the quote request and we will flag the regulatory dependency in writing.
Canadian projects use a different book: Transport Canada's November 2025 medium-drone and lower-risk BVLOS rules. Start with our RPAS update.
Questions about a dock, a waiver package or a 2027 budget line: WhatsApp us or email [email protected].
Products in this article
25% off MSRP
DJI Matrice 400
Industrial Platform · IP45 · 55Min · OcuSync 2 · Heavy-Lift
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25% off MSRP
DJI Matrice 4E
Surveying+Mapping+Inspection · IP55 · 45Min · O3 · Mechanical Shutter
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25% off MSRP
DJI Matrice 4T
Thermal+Visual+Radiometric+IR · IP55 · 45Min · O3
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Quote-Based Pricing
DJI FlyCart 30
Max Load 30kg · Cargo Box+Air Freight · 25Min · 72km/h · OmniSensing · O3 · 95kg
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Part 108 been published as a final rule?
No. The FAA transmitted the draft to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. OIRA review is a normal last step before a major rule can be published in the Federal Register. Until publication, Part 107 plus waivers and exemptions remain the legal path for most US BVLOS work.
Can I buy a DJI Dock or Matrice 400 for BVLOS now?
Yes, you can buy and train on the aircraft. Operating BVLOS still requires the current FAA authorizations. We itemise aircraft, dock, radios, detect-and-avoid and training separately from any assumption that Part 108 will be in force on a given date.
Does Part 108 apply in Canada?
No. Canadian BVLOS is governed by Transport Canada's RPAS rules, including the November 2025 Level 1 Complex certificate for lower-risk BVLOS. See our Transport Canada update.
Sources & Further Reading
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