Washington, DC – August 6, 2025 – Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and CEO Ian Jefferies issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Transportation’s release of its proposed rule on Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations:

“It is encouraging to see this long-overdue BVLOS rule released. America’s freight railroads commend Secretary Duffy and the USDOT, for advancing a forward-looking policy that could help unlock the full potential of unmanned aircraft systems across our national transportation network.

“Routine BVLOS operations hold tremendous potential for railroads—enhancing safety, speeding up inspections, and improving emergency response in ways that were previously limited. AAR members have long advocated for a rule that offers clarity, scalability, and meaningful safety benefits, and while we are still reviewing the rule in full, we are optimistic that today’s action represents a significant milestone toward that goal.”

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