Understanding BVLOS: A Deeper Dive BVLOS operations are not just a regulatory hurdle; they are a game-changer for utilities. The ability to operate beyond visual line of sight opens up new possibilities for efficiency and safety. The Importance of BVLOS Why is BVLOS so crucial? It allows for inspections and operations over vast areas without the need for constant visual contact. This means less downtime and more effective monitoring of critical infrastructure. Preparing for t

Most utility drone programs scale faster than their paperwork. Pilots fly and data piles up, but the SOPs, Safety Management System, and CONOPS that turn a stack of flights into a defensible aviation operation lag behind. Tactien builds that backbone to aviation standards, so a utility's UAS program can move toward BVLOS, scale across regions, and hold up to regulatory and internal audit.

Buy the wrong drone and you find out in the field, after the budget's spent. Most platform decisions get made off a spec sheet and a vendor demo, not against the mission, the site, or the regulatory path the operator actually has to fly. Tactien's vetting, validation, and selection process tests platforms on proof and mission fit, independent of any OEM, so critical infrastructure operators commit to aircraft that hold up where it counts.

The FAA’s Part 108 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) introduces a sweeping new framework for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations. While it creates opportunities for all sectors, this article focuses on the raises major questions raised from the perspective of operating such aircraft on critical infrastructure —powerlines, pipelines, and railways, etc.

Mr. Ernst, founder and president of The Tactien Group LLC, has established himself as a leading figure in aviation technology.