FAA launches second phase of BEYOND drone integration program

The Federal Aviation Administration has announced the second phase of its BEYOND program, meant to safely expand drone operations within the National Airspace System. The agency said it will select eight new state, local, tribal or territorial government participants to take part.

Phase 1 ran from 2020 until last year. The FAA said Phase 2 will build on lessons from that period, particularly around challenges such as on-airport drone operations.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the new phase will expand the partnerships and operations needed to address remaining hurdles in beyond visual line of sight flights. An agency spokesperson clarified that the references to on-airport operations concern activities already coordinated with air traffic control, such as emergency response or runway inspections, rather than new access to airspace.

A screening information request for the competitive selection process lists five operational focus areas for Phase 2. These include operations in controlled airspace, cross-border flights, and on-airport missions.

Separately, the FAA is reviewing a proposed rule known as Part 108, which is currently under evaluation at the federal Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. That proposal includes language meant to prohibit drone operations that interfere with airport traffic patterns. An agency spokesperson described BEYOND Phase 2 as distinct from the rulemaking process.

According to the report, Phase 2 activity could pick up around the time Part 108 takes effect, assuming there are no further delays. The rule has already gone through a prolonged review period.