The Belize Department of Civil Aviation (BDCA) has announced a one-month extension to its deadline for releasing a revised draft of national unmanned aircraft systems regulations, pushing the date from the originally scheduled June 30 to July 30, 2026. The extension comes in the wake of a public consultation phase that drew far more input than initially anticipated, with dozens of targeted comments and technical recommendations submitted by key stakeholders across both the traditional aviation sector and fast-growing commercial and recreational drone industries. BDCA officials have emphasized that the timeline shift is purely an administrative adjustment to accommodate the review of all submitted feedback, and in no way signals a reduction in the department’s commitment to rolling out clear, effective rules for drone operations in Belizean airspace. Once the revised draft is published next month, the department will open a second public comment window, giving all interested parties another opportunity to review the proposed framework and submit formal feedback before the regulations are finalized. BDCA reaffirmed that its top priority is upholding full transparent regulatory due process, with the end goal of establishing a clear set of standards that allows both manned commercial and private aircraft and unmanned drone systems to operate safely in shared Belizean airspace, mitigating collision risks and supporting the sustainable growth of the burgeoning local drone sector.