With the successful conclusion of the three-year Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program (IPP), the U.S. Department of Transportation has unveiled a program to advance national air space drone integration.
Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao said the three years of information gathered under the drone Integration Pilot Program will be applied to a new initiative called BEYOND.
BEYOND started on Oct. 26, 2020, to continue the partnerships with eight of the nine IPP participants – addressing such challenge areas as Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations that are repeatable, scalable, and economically viable with specific emphasis on infrastructure inspection, public operations, and small package delivery; leveraging industry operations to better analyze and quantify the societal and economic benefits of UAS operations; and focusing on community engagement efforts to collect, analyze and address community concerns.
“The IPP propelled the American drone industry forward, allowing for unprecedented expansions in testing and operations through innovative private-public partnerships across the country,” Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios said. “Now, the BEYOND program will build upon this success, tackling the next big challenges facing drone integration. The Trump Administration remains committed to the safe and innovative development of drone technologies for the benefit of the American people.”
IPP participants used the regulations to conduct package delivery, inspect pipelines and power lines, assess flood damage, count cattle, respond to 911 calls, inspect aircraft, and many other missions. Data from the flights aided informed ongoing rulemaking, policy, and guidance while supporting future efforts.