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FAA expands BEYOND program to accelerate drone integration
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expanding its BEYOND program to accelerate the integration of drones into the U.S. National Airspace System. The launch of Phase 2 aims to double the program's current scale by adding up to eight new state, local, tribal, and territorial entities. This expansion focuses on advancing complex operations, including Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) missions, public safety, and airport environments.
Data gathered from the first phase, which included over 70,000 flights and 48,000 BVLOS operations, is being used to develop performance-based regulatory standards. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated the objective is to create a regulatory framework that is “safe, scalable, and based on real-world data.”
In related aviation testing, the company Electra conducted hybrid-electric aircraft flights between Manassas, Virginia, and Philadelphia. These tests, part of the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, utilized a hybrid-electric demonstrator designed for short takeoff and landing to explore connecting small airfields with major aviation hubs.
Entities
Bryan Bedford · Electra · Federal Aviation Administration · Sean P. Duffy · U.S. Department of Transportation
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The FAA is expanding the BEYOND program to integrate drones into the National Airspace System. aeromarket.com.ar · a21.com.mx
- [● 2 SOURCES] Phase 2 will incorporate up to eight new state, local, and territorial entities. aeromarket.com.ar · a21.com.mx
- [● 2 SOURCES] Phase 2 of the BEYOND program will double the number of main participants. aeromarket.com.ar · a21.com.mx
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The first phase of the BEYOND program included more than 70,000 flights. aeromarket.com.ar
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Electra conducted hybrid-electric aircraft tests between Manassas, Virginia, and Philadelphia. aeroespacio.com.ar
- [○ 1 SOURCE] More than 48,000 operations in the first phase were Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). aeromarket.com.ar
- [● 2 SOURCES] The goal is to build a regulatory framework that is safe, scalable, and based on real-world data. aeromarket.com.ar · a21.com.mx
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The expansion aims to maintain U.S. leadership in aeronautical innovation. a21.com.mx