Short Takes – 8-7-25 – Federal Register Edition

Normalizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations. Federal Register FAA notice of proposed rulemaking. Summary: “This action proposes performance-based regulations to enable the design and operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) at low altitudes beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) and for third-party services, including UAS Traffic Management (UTM), that support these operations. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 directs the development of this proposed rule. This proposed rule is necessary to support the integration of UAS into the national airspace system (NAS). This proposed rule is intended to provide a predictable and clear pathway for safe, routine, and scalable UAS operations that include package delivery, agriculture, aerial surveying, civic interest, operations training, demonstration, recreation, and flight testing. TSA proposes to make complementary changes to its regulations to ensure it can continue to impose security measures on these operations under its current regulatory structure for civil aviation.” Comments due: October 6^th, 2025. NOTE: I will be addressing the TSA portion of this rulemaking in a separate blog post.

Emergency Escape Breathing Apparatus Standards. Federal Register FRA extension of compliance dates. Summary: “This document extends the compliance dates in the emergency escape breathing apparatus final rule published on January 26, 2024. FRA is extending the compliance dates in response to concerns raised in a joint petition for reconsideration, as well as FRA's own investigation into the feasibility of these dates.”  New compliance date: September 26, 2026.

Gulf of America Name Change. Federal Register DOC direct final rule. Summary: “NMFS and NOS are amending their regulations to change the name of the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America,” consistent with a Presidential directive issued through Executive Order. The intended effect of this rule is to ensure consistency with the Executive Order and to provide clarity for the regulated and general public moving forward regarding the Gulf of America name change.” Effective date: 8-7-25.