HANGAR TALK UAS & eVTOL NEWS RELATING TO UNCrewed, AAM & eVTOL SYSTEMS
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Unveils Rule to Unleash American Drone Dominance as Part of Innovation Agenda
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy unveiled a new proposed rule on Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Aug. 5. This rule will unleash American innovation and safely integrate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the national airspace system.
For more information about the proposed rule, see the fact sheet.
“We are making the future of our aviation a reality and unleashing American drone dominance. From drones delivering medicine to unmanned aircraft surveying crops, this technology will fundamentally change the way we interact with the world,” Duffy said. “Our new rule will reform outdated regulations that were holding innovators back, while also enhancing safety in our skies. Thanks to President Trump, America – not China – will lead the way in this exciting new technology.”
Previously, operators would have to get individual waivers or exemptions to use their drones without visual line of sight. These were approved on a case-by-case basis, and the process was cumbersome. By eliminating these requirements for BVLOS operations, the proposal will significantly expand the use-case for drone technologies in areas like manufacturing, farming, energy production, filmmaking, and the movement of products including lifesaving medications.
“Normalizing BVLOS flights is key to realizing drones’ societal and economic benefits,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “Package delivery, agriculture, aerial surveying, public safety, recreation, and flight testing are just some of the uses we expect to see as we enable these innovative technologies while maintaining the safety of our National Airspace System.”
“Today’s NPRM (notice of proposed rulemaking) is a bold, forward-looking step that helps unlock the full potential of BVLOS drone operations, transforming how we monitor infrastructure, deliver critical supplies, advance precision agriculture, and speed up emergency response. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are giving innovators a predictable, scalable pathway to conduct BVLOS missions, to ensure that the United States remains the global leader in drone technology. We look forward to public comment on this critical rulemaking,” said Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
The proposal also includes updated requirements for manufacturers,
operators, and drone traffic-management services to keep BVLOS drones safely separated from each other and from manned aircraft.
42 July/Aug 2025
Bell to Build X-Plane for Phase 2 of DARPA Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane Program
Bell Textron Inc. has been down-selected for Phase 2 of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane program with the objective to complete design, construction, ground testing and certification of an X-plane demonstrator.
“Bell is honored to have been selected for the next phase of DARPA’s SPRINT program and is excited to demonstrate a brand-new aircraft with the first-ever stop/fold technology,” said Jason Hurst, senior vice president, Engineering. “This is an achievement we’ve been working towards for over 10 years, as we’ve leveraged our nearly 90-year history of X-plane development to bring new technology to our warfighters.”
The goal of the program is to provide these aircraft with the ability to cruise at speeds from 400 to 450 knots at relevant altitudes and hover in austere environments from unprepared surfaces. In Phase 1A and 1B, Bell completed conceptual and preliminary design efforts for the SPRINT X-plane. Phase 2 includes detailed design and build culminating in flight testing during Phase 3.
In preparation for X-plane development, Bell has completed significant risk reduction activities, including demonstrating folding rotor, integrated propulsion, and flight control technologies at Holloman Air Force Base, as well as wind tunnel testing at the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University. Bell has a rich history of breaking barriers and of high-speed vertical lift technology development, pioneering innovative VTOL configurations like the X-14, X-22, XV-3 and XV-15 for NASA, the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. Bell continues to build on the legacy of the Bell X-1.
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