What characterizes 'beyond visual line of sight' (BVLOS) operations?

'Beyond visual line of sight' (BVLOS) operations are characterized by flying an aircraft without the pilot maintaining visual contact with it. This means that the pilot is not able to see the aircraft directly at all times, which allows for operations over greater distances than would otherwise be permissible under visual line of sight (VLOS) regulations. BVLOS is essential for certain applications such as long-range deliveries, infrastructure inspections, and search and rescue operations, as it expands the operational envelope of drones and other unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

The other options do not adequately capture the essence of BVLOS. For instance, flying without any pilot supervision could imply a situation where there is no remote pilot at all, which is not representative of BVLOS operations. Clear weather conditions might be a requirement for other types of flights but is not a defining characteristic of BVLOS. Lastly, the geographic restriction to rural areas does not apply to BVLOS; such operations can occur in both urban and rural settings depending on regulatory permissions and operational needs.