BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight)

BVLOS refers to drone operations conducted beyond the range at which the remote pilot can see the aircraft unaided, which is the regime required to inspect long linear assets such as transmission pipelines efficiently. BVLOS unlocks the economics of aerial pipeline inspection because it removes the need to leapfrog crews along the route, but it also carries the heaviest regulatory burden, since the operator must demonstrate detect-and-avoid capability and airspace safety without direct visual contact. In India, BVLOS approvals to date have flowed through government-sponsored consortiums with security clearance rather than open commercial licensing.