Global Safety and uncrewed Systems Integration

January 18, 2026

     As an aviation safety manager, I spend a lot of time thinking about what the airspace may look like five or ten years from now. One of the biggest changes already underway is the rapid growth of uncrewed aircraft systems, especially as regulators consider allowing more routine operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). A recent article from AeroTime discusses how major aviation organizations are urging the FAA to take a safety-first approach as it develops new BVLOS rules for drone operations (AeroTime, n.d.).

    BVLOS operations feel like a logical progression for uncrewed aircraft as their capabilities continue to expand. They enable missions such as extended infrastructure inspections, disaster response, cargo transport, and other operations that are not practical within visual range (Federal Aviation Administration [FAA], n.d.). At the same time, these operations introduce new safety challenges. Without direct visual contact, operators must rely entirely on systems, procedures, and coordination to maintain situational awareness. Issues such as lost communication links, the reliability of detection and avoidance
systems, and safe interaction with crewed aircraft become critical risks that must be addressed through careful planning and oversight (AeroTime, n.d.; FAA, n.d.).

    From an organizational standpoint, this trend directly affects how we build and maintain our Safety Management System. Risk assessments can no longer focus only on traditional crewed aircraft hazards. They must include uncrewed traffic, automation failures, and shared airspace conflicts (FAA, n.d.). Training programs also need to evolve so that both drone operators and crewed pilots understand how to operate safely around each other. As BVLOS becomes more common, organizations that prepare early will be far better positioned to prevent incidents rather than react to them.

    What I appreciate most about the AeroTime article is how it supports a healthy safety culture. Instead of framing BVLOS as a race to innovate, it highlights collaboration between regulators, industry groups, and operators. That kind of open discussion encourages information sharing, realistic risk evaluation, and learning from early data rather than waiting for accidents to drive change (AeroTime, n.d.). This is exactly the mindset aviation has relied on for decades to continuously improve safety.

    Uncrewed systems are no longer a future concept. They are already here and expanding quickly. Articles like this help ensure that growth happens responsibly, with safety guiding policy decisions instead of lagging behind them. As a safety manager, that balance between innovation and risk management is what ultimately protects lives and preserves trust in the aviation system.

References

AeroTime. US aviation groups urge safety-first approach to new drone rules.
https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/faa-bvlos-drone-rule-nbaa-safety-first

Federal Aviation Administration. Uncrewed Aircraft Systems and BVLOS operations.
https://www.faa.gov/uas