[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]
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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.
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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.
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\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.
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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]
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