Washington, DC – May 15, 2025 – AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies issued the following statement on USDOT’s announcement regarding rules pertaining to Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations (BVLOS) and restricting UAS operations at a fixed site facility.

“Freight railroads applaud the U.S. Department of Transportation for advancing two long-awaited unmanned aircraft systems proposals to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. This is a critical step toward enabling routine beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations, which hold immense potential to enhance infrastructure safety, inspection efficiency, and emergency response for Class I railroads especially. AAR members have long supported the development of clear BVLOS rules that improve safety outcomes and reduce regulatory burdens.

AAR is also pleased to see that the long-delayed rule on the protection of critical infrastructure, like railroads, from unauthorized UAS incursions is integral to the safe integration of UAS into the national airspace.  This rule was mandated by Congress in 2016 and its good to see it finally move forward.

We look forward to reviewing the details of the final measures and continuing to work with federal partners to integrate new technologies that enhance safety and benefit the broader transportation network.”

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