Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
FAA Seeks Standards for Beyond Line-of-Sight Drone Flights
The agency has asked standards organization ASTM to develop standards for beyond visual line-of-sight operations and flights over people.
Jim Williams, shown in a file photo, said the FAA should 'meet or beat' the timeline to produce a small UAS rule. (Photo: Bill Carey)
Jim Williams, shown in a file photo, said the FAA should 'meet or beat' the timeline to produce a small UAS rule. (Photo: Bill Carey)

The Federal Aviation Administration has asked standards organization ASTM International to develop standards that would support operations of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) beyond the line of sight of their pilots and over people—allowances that are not expected in the small UAS draft regulation the agency is currently reviewing. The new standards may be required for a “special class certification” to conduct such operations, said the chairman of ASTM’s UAS committee.