The FAA just dropped a regulatory bombshell that could reshape the entire commercial drone industry—and most operators haven’t even heard about it yet.

Part 108 is the FAA’s proposed framework for certifying large-scale, routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. Think drone delivery networks, automated infrastructure inspections, and commercial operations that look nothing like today’s Part 107 flights.

If you’re operating drones commercially, here’s why you should care.

What Part 107 Can’t Handle

Part 107 was designed for small drones operated within visual line of sight. It’s served the industry well, but it was never built for:

• Autonomous delivery fleets covering entire cities
• Systematic infrastructure inspection programs spanning hundreds of miles
• Multi-drone operations managed by remote pilots
• Commercial operations integrated into the National Airspace System at scale

Every one of these operations requires individual waivers under current rules—a process that doesn’t scale and creates regulatory bottlenecks that strangle innovation.

Part 108 aims to fix that.

The Core Concept: Type Certification

Here’s the fundamental shift: Part 108 moves from certifying pilots to certifying aircraft and operations.

Under Part 107, if you have a license and follow the rules, you can fly any compliant drone. Under Part 108, the drone system itself must be certified—similar to how commercial airliners receive type certificates.

What this means practically:

• Manufacturers will design drones specifically for Part 108 certification
• Aircraft will need to demonstrate safety through rigorous testing
• Operations will require detailed safety cases and risk assessments
• Operators will need formal training on certified systems
• Maintenance and airworthiness documentation becomes mandatory

This is aviation-grade certification coming to commercial drones.

Who Benefits (And Who Doesn’t)

Winners:

• Major drone delivery companies (Amazon, Zipline, Wing)
• Large-scale inspection operations (utilities, railroads, pipelines)
• Enterprise fleet operators with repetitive routes
• Drone manufacturers capable of meeting certification standards

Challenges for:

• Small drone service providers without resources for certification
• Startups trying to enter the market
• Occasional commercial operators
• Companies with highly variable operational profiles

Part 108 is designed for industrial-scale operations, not the photographer shooting real estate listings or the small inspection company with three drones.

The Timeline Nobody’s Talking About

The FAA proposed Part 108 in May 2023. Public comment periods closed. Final rules? Probably 2026-2027 at the earliest, with initial certifications taking years beyond that.

Here’s what smart operators should know: Part 107 isn’t going anywhere. Part 108 creates a parallel pathway for operators who need routine BVLOS authority—it doesn’t replace the existing framework.

If your operations fit comfortably within Part 107’s line-of-sight restrictions, Part 108 likely doesn’t change your world. If you’re constantly seeking waivers for BVLOS operations or planning delivery networks, Part 108 offers a potential long-term solution.

The Training Implications

Part 108 explicitly requires “type-specific” training for certified aircraft systems. This means:

• Generic Part 107 training won’t suffice for Part 108 operations
• Manufacturers or operators must develop approved training programs
• Pilots will need certification on specific aircraft types
• Recurrent training requirements will likely be more stringent

The days of “I have my Part 107, I can fly anything” are ending for advanced operations.

What You Should Do Now

If you’re a current Part 107 operator: Stay informed, but don’t panic. Your operations remain legal and viable under existing rules. Part 108 creates opportunities for expansion, not restrictions on what you’re already doing.

If you’re planning large-scale operations: Engage with the regulatory process. Understand the requirements. Budget for certification costs that will dwarf today’s compliance expenses.

If you’re a manufacturer: Start designing with Part 108 in mind. First movers who achieve certification will have significant competitive advantages.

The Bottom Line

Part 108 represents the FAA’s acknowledgment that the drone industry has outgrown Part 107’s one-size-fits-all approach. It creates a pathway for sophisticated operations that simply aren’t possible under current rules.

But it also represents regulatory complexity, certification costs, and operational requirements that look more like traditional aviation than the nimble drone industry we know today.

Whether that’s progress or burden depends entirely on your business model. For delivery companies and infrastructure operators, it’s the regulatory clarity they’ve desperately needed. For small operators, it’s largely irrelevant to daily operations.

The key insight: The commercial drone industry is bifurcating. Part 107 remains the foundation for conventional operations. Part 108 creates a new tier for industrial-scale, automated systems that operate more like airlines than camera platforms.

Understanding which world your operations live in will determine how Part 108 affects your future.