After months of waiting, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) finally has a permanent leader. And for the drone industry, this appointment couldn’t come at a more crucial time.
Bryan Bedford, a seasoned aviation executive with more than 35 years of experience, has officially taken the reins as FAA Administrator. With his confirmation by the US Senate, Bedford now oversees a workforce of over 40,000 tasked with managing the world’s busiest and most complex airspace. But what really has drone operators watching closely is how his leadership could shift the trajectory of long-stalled drone regulations.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the FAA team,” Bedford says. “We’re building a modern, resilient FAA — one that embraces innovation and is ready for the future demands of aviation.”
That “future” includes drones.
An industry hungry for progress
While drone technology has evolved rapidly, the regulatory landscape has often lagged behind, especially in areas like Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. These types of flights are essential for scaling up commercial drone use, from delivery services to infrastructure inspections. The FAA has been working toward a BVLOS rule for years, but progress has been slow, often hampered by leadership gaps and shifting political priorities.
Industry groups are now hopeful that Bedford’s appointment brings the consistency and urgency the drone sector needs.
Michael Robbins, CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), calls Bedford’s confirmation “a defining moment” for aviation innovation. With the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 in play and a massive $12.5 billion budget infusion for air traffic control modernization, Robbins emphasizes that Bedford’s steady leadership will be vital for unlocking long-overdue rulemaking.
“Administrator Bedford’s confirmation ensures the FAA has steady leadership as it advances major regulatory and operational priorities,” Robbins says, highlighting expectations for BVLOS rules, counter-drone tech, and drone airspace security provisions under Section 2209.
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The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) also welcomes Bedford’s appointment, pointing to the need for reduced bureaucracy and faster implementation of the White House’s Executive Orders — “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” and “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty.”
These orders aim to restore US leadership in drone innovation and streamline routine, scalable operations. With Bedford in charge, CDA hopes to see real momentum toward that goal, particularly with regard to reducing bureaucratic red tape and enabling routine, scalable drone BVLOS operations.
“Administrator Bedford’s leadership will bring stability to the agency at a time when it is vital for the United States to restore its global leadership in safely integrating innovative technologies into the National Airspace System,” the CDA says in a statement.
Bedford’s track record adds credibility to these hopes. As CEO of Republic Airways for 26 years, he led one of the largest regional airlines in the US, gaining hands-on experience with airspace operations, pilot training, and safety management systems. He’s also a licensed pilot, which gives him a unique perspective on balancing safety and innovation.
It’s this real-world operational insight that groups like the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) believe will serve the FAA well.
“Being both an airline executive and pilot gives Bryan a unique and valuable perspective on the entire aviation ecosystem,” says AOPA president Darren Pleasance.
Meanwhile, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) emphasizes that the FAA’s modernization efforts — from workforce planning to overhauling air traffic control — require “steady, experienced leadership.”
New team, new chapter
Bedford isn’t going it alone. Chris Rocheleau, who has served as FAA Acting Administrator since January, will now support Bedford as Deputy Administrator. Industry leaders have praised Rocheleau’s service and are optimistic about the duo’s potential to tackle the FAA’s most urgent challenges.
“The leadership team of Administrator Bedford and Deputy Administrator Rocheleau is the powerhouse we need,” says Robbins of AUVSI.
Bedford has already pledged to hit the ground running, with plans to visit FAA facilities nationwide, meet frontline employees, and get a clearer sense of where the agency’s biggest challenges, and opportunities, lie.
“Building trust and delivering results together will be our focus,” he says.
So, what does this all mean for drone operators?
It means there’s real hope that long-awaited changes — like final BVLOS rules and expanded airspace access — could finally come to fruition. With fresh leadership, a solid budget, and bipartisan support for drone innovation, the ingredients are in place.
But it’s also a critical moment. The drone industry needs a regulator that not only understands aviation but is also willing to break free from a legacy mindset that treats drones as a side note.
If Bedford can live up to his promise of embracing innovation and delivering results, drone pilots across the country might finally get the regulatory green light they’ve been waiting for.
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