Sean Duffy Adds Up To Eight Participants To FAA Drone Program
The FAA's Phase 1 already logged 70,000 flights, 48,000 of them beyond the operator's sight, before the rule permitting it exists.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced BEYOND Program Phase 2 on August 27, 2026.
- Phase 1 flew 70,000 total drone flights, including 48,000 beyond visual line of sight.
- Phase 2 adds up to eight new participants while FAA's BVLOS rulemaking remains unfinished.
Why it matters: The government is expanding routine sight-unseen drone flight before finishing the rule meant to govern it.
FAA newsroom release, Sean Duffy announces BEYOND Program Phase 2 expansion ↗ · Sep 14, 20269/14/26