What Happened
Drone Integration Advances With New Participants
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched Phase 2 of its BEYOND program, aiming to advance drone integration into the National Airspace System. The program, which began in October 2020, has already produced a substantial operational record, with over 70,000 total flights logged, including more than 48,000 beyond visual line of sight. The expansion, authorized under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, will add up to eight new state, local, tribal, and territorial lead participants to address remaining hurdles in BVLOS operations and public safety missions. This development was first reported by The Aerospace Journal.