![\"NASA,](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/utm-bvlos.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/figure>NASA\u2019s Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Traffic Management Beyond Visual Line of Sight (UTM BVLOS)\u00a0subproject aims to support the growing demand for drone flights across the globe.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, offer an increasing number of services, from package delivery to critical public safety operations, like search and rescue missions. However, without special waivers, these flights are currently limited to visual line of sight \u2013 or only as far as the pilot can see \u2013 which is roughly no farther than one mile from the operator. As the FAA works to authorize flights beyond this point, NASA is working with industry and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operationalize an uncrewed traffic management system for these operations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s UTM Legacy <\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Traffic Management, or UTM, was first developed at NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center in California\u2019s Silicon Valley in 2013, and enables drones to safely and efficiently integrate into air traffic that is already flying in low-altitude airspace. UTM is based on digital sharing of each user\u2019s planned flight details, ensuring each user has the same situational awareness of the airspace.\u00a0<\/p>\n NASA performed a series of drone flight demonstrations<\/a> using UTM concepts in rural areas and densely populated cities under the agency\u2019s previous UTM project . And commercial drone companies have since utilized NASA\u2019s UTM concepts and delivery operations in limited areas. \u00a0<\/p>\n UTM Today<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n NASA research is a driving force in making routine drone deliveries a reality. The agency is supporting a series of commercial drone package deliveries beyond visual line of sight, some of which kicked off in August 2024 in Dallas, Texas. Commercial operators are using NASA\u2019s UTM-based capabilities during these flights to share data and planned flight routes with other operators in the airspace, detect and avoid hazards, and maintain situational awareness. All of these capabilities allow operators to safely execute their operations in a shared airspace below 400 feet and away from crewed aircraft. These drone operations in Dallas are a collaboration between NASA, the FAA, industry drone operators, public safety operators, and others.\u00a0<\/p>\n These initial flights will help validate UTM capabilities through successful flight operation evaluations and inform the FAA\u2019s rulemaking for safely expanding drone operations beyond visual line of sight.\u00a0<\/p>\n The agency will continue to work with industry and government partners on more complex drone operations in communities across the country. NASA is also working with partners to leverage UTM for other emerging operations, including remotely piloted air cargo delivery and air taxi flights. UTM infrastructure could also support high-altitude operations for expanded scientific research, improved disaster response, and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n NASA UTM BVLOS<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s UTM Beyond Visual Line of Site (UTM BVLOS) subproject is leading this effort, under the Air Traffic Management eXploration<\/a> portfolio within the agency\u2019s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate<\/a>. This work is in support of NASA\u2019s Advanced Air Mobility Mission<\/a>, which seeks to transform our communities by bringing the movement of people and goods off the ground, on demand, and into the sky.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/figure>Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n