Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS): the key to scalable and safe drone operations

Would the aviation industry function if every airline had to build its own airport? Then why should drone operators face the same challenge? 

BYOI is stalling the drone industry—Thales and Vantis are proving that shared-use infrastructure is the key to unlocking BVLOS operations. 

BVLOS expands drone capabilities beyond line-of-sight—but without shared infrastructure, it remains expensive, inefficient, and difficult to scale. 

The BYOI Challenge: Why It’s Stalling the Drone Industry

Imagine if every trucking company, mail courier, or emergency service had to build its own roads. The idea seems absurd. Yet, this is exactly what commercial drone operators face today when trying to conduct Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. 

Without shared infrastructure, each drone operator must invest millions into airspace integration—mastering navigation, safety, and communication technologies—just to operate. This hinders industry growth, prevents standardisation, and increases operational costs. 

The BYOI model is failing the UAS industry in three key ways: 

• It’s too expensive – Setting up a BVLOS network demands significant investment in ground-based and airborne technologies.
• It slows innovation – Every operator must start from scratch, delaying progress and adoption.
• It’s inefficient and unsafe – A lack of standardisation results in fragmented operations and increased risks. 

For the drone industry to truly scale, a shared-use infrastructure is essential. 

North Dakota’s Vision: Pioneering a UAS Network for BVLOS 

North Dakota has emerged as a leader in drone innovation by investing in Vantis—the nation’s first statewide BVLOS network. 

What is Vantis? 

Vantis is a shared-use system integrating physical and virtual infrastructure to enable safe, repeatable, and scalable drone operations. It connects commercial UAVs with existing airspace systems, ensuring seamless operation alongside manned aircraft. 

The Impact of Vantis 

• 125+ UAS test flights conducted to refine operations.
• 25 manned aircraft tested alongside drones, ensuring safety.
• Statewide expansion underway, making BVLOS operations accessible and cost-effective. 

By reducing operational barriers, Vantis supports economic growth, fostering a diverse and thriving drone ecosystem in North Dakota. 

Powering the Future of BVLOS Operations 

In 2021, North Dakota selected Thales as the long-term systems integrator for Vantis, leveraging its global expertise in: 

• Air traffic management – Two out of three aircraft take off, fly, and land using Thales solutions.
• Cybersecurity and digital identity – Ensuring safe and secure drone integration.
• Communications, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) – Providing real-time airspace awareness. 

The BVLOS Blueprint 

Thales has developed the BVLOS Blueprint, guiding national and regional authorities on how to structure drone networks for commercial success. This blueprint serves as a roadmap for unlocking the economic and societal benefits of autonomous drone operations. 

A Shared Future: Unlocking High-Value Drone Use Cases 

Thales and Vantis are demonstrating that shared-use infrastructure is the key to unlocking the full potential of the drone industry. By transitioning away from the BYOI model, commercial UAVs can: 

• Enable package deliveries
• Support precision agriculture
• Conduct infrastructure inspections
• Improve search-and-rescue missions 

As BVLOS networks expand, Thales remains at the forefront, ensuring safe, scalable, and efficient drone operations worldwide. 

“Requiring each participant in a transportation system to ‘bring your own infrastructure’ isn’t scalable.”