According to the FAA Newsroom:
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is launching Phase 2 of the BEYOND program to expand the agency’s efforts to integrate drones into the national airspace system (NAS) and secure America’s leadership in aviation innovation.
The FAA will double the program’s current size by selecting up to eight additional state, local, tribal and territorial entities to serve as lead participants, significantly expanding advanced drone operations across the country.
“America leads the world in aviation, and this expansion will help keep it that way,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Under President Trump’s leadership, this Department is cutting through barriers, advancing innovation and making sure the next generation of aviation technology is developed, tested and built right here in the United States.”
“As drone technology continues to advance, the FAA is focused on building a regulatory framework that is safe, scalable and grounded in real-world data,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “Phase 2 of BEYOND will expand the partnerships and operations needed to address remaining challenges in beyond visual line of sight operations, public safety missions, on-airport operations and other complex airspace environments.”
The expansion builds on the success of two programs from the first Trump administration: the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program, launched in 2017, and BEYOND Phase 1, which began in 2020. Together, the programs established a strong model for collaboration among federal, state, local, tribal and territorial governments and industry to safely advance drone operations in the United States.
Authorized under Section 920 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, BEYOND Phase 2 will expand participation and support more advanced drone operations. New lead participants will help the FAA address the remaining challenges to safely scale routine drone operations in the National Airspace System.
Screening information and additional details on the application process are available now.
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Be sure to visit the BWU Technology Partnerships Initiative website to learn more about how our NEOFIX program drives economic growth, promotes policy and infrastructure to improve drone safety and efficiency in various industries, and ensures that drone technology is being used responsibly.