ResilienX Receives FAA Certificate of Waiver for BVLOS Drone Operations
ResilienX, a leader in aviation safety and BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) drone networks, has achieved a major milestone with the receipt of a Certificate of Waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This waiver authorizes ResilienX to conduct routine BVLOS drone operations without the need for visual observers, facilitated through the FAA-accepted surveillance infrastructure network operated by NUAIR.
Key Details of the FAA Waiver
The FAA waiver, granted on March 24, 2026, allows ResilienX to operate small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) beyond the visual line of sight of the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC). This approval, effective through September 30, 2029, provides relief from 14 CFR §§ 107.31 and 107.33 and includes stringent operational, technical, and safety provisions.
The approval is based on ResilienX’s use of NUAIR’s Automated Data Service Provider (ADSP) capability, which operates under an FAA Letter of Acceptance (LOA) issued through the Near-Term Approval Process (NTAP). NTAP is the FAA’s process for evaluating and accepting third-party infrastructure services as safety mitigations, enabling advanced operations such as BVLOS flights.
Impact on the Industry and Future Operations
This approval is a significant development not just for ResilienX and NUAIR, but for the entire industry. Ken Stewart, President and CEO of NUAIR, emphasized that NTAP was designed to demonstrate how shared, FAA-accepted infrastructure can safely enable BVLOS operations at scale. The success of this approval is a step forward in the FAA’s ongoing standard-setting process and has national implications for expanding BVLOS operations in the national airspace.
The waiver covers 1900 sq miles in Central New York, where all BVLOS operations conducted by ResilienX are supported by NUAIR’s FAA-accepted surveillance network. This infrastructure ensures continuous low-altitude airspace awareness and tactical deconfliction capability, essential for safe operations.
What’s Next for ResilienX
This waiver enables ResilienX to launch its ORION-X on-demand drone service in the Syracuse region, offering services like aerial photography, roof inspections, and property-related missions for both residential and commercial customers. Andrew Carter, CEO of ResilienX, expressed excitement about overcoming the regulatory hurdle and is eager to begin operations, with NUAIR’s infrastructure now fully integrated into their service offering.
The approval also supports multiple operational modes, including field-piloted BVLOS flights and dock-based, remotely supervised operations, all while maintaining the highest safety standards.
ResilienX and NUAIR: Paving the Way for BVLOS Operations
This breakthrough waiver marks a critical achievement in ResilienX’s operational and safety framework, as well as a significant step forward in enabling BVLOS drone operations. The partnership with NUAIR and the FAA underscores the importance of shared infrastructure in facilitating the future of drone operations across the U.S.
