The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is launching Phase 2 of its BEYOND program for integrating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the national airspace. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced the expansion on Thursday, August 27, 2026, in Washington, D.C.. The initiative is authorized under Section 920 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 and aims to scale routine drone operations across the United States.
This new phase will double the program’s current capacity by selecting up to eight additional state, local, tribal, and territorial entities as lead participants. These new partners will help address persistent challenges in beyond visual line of sight operations, public safety missions, and complex on-airport environments. The expansion builds on the foundation laid by the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program, which launched in 2017, and BEYOND Phase 1, which began in October 2020.
During Phase 1, participants recorded more than 70,000 flights, including over 48,000 beyond visual line of sight operations. The FAA says this data informed its upcoming BVLOS rule and helped shift drone regulation from case-by-case waivers toward clear, performance-based rules.
Screening information and application details are currently available for interested entities looking to join the expanded network.
Summary written for CheckAero from the official document. It is not legal advice; read the full text before acting.