EXTENSION OF BEYOND PROGRAM.

SEC. 920. EXTENSION OF BEYOND PROGRAM. (a) FAA BEYOND Program Extension.—The Administrator shall extend the BEYOND program of the FAA as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act (in this section referred to as the “Program”) and the existing agreements with State, local, and Tribal governments entered into under the Program until the date on which the Administrator determines the Program is no longer necessary or useful. (b) FAA BEYOND Program Expansion.— (1) In general.—The Administrator shall consider expanding the Program to include additional State, local, and Tribal governments to test and evaluate the use of new and emerging aviation concepts and technologies to evaluate and inform FAA policies, rulemaking, and guidance related to the safe integration of such concepts and technologies into the national airspace system. (2) Scope.—If the Administrator determines the Program should be expanded, the Administrator shall address additional factors in the Program, including— (A) increasing automation in civil aircraft, including unmanned aircraft systems and new or emerging aviation technologies; (B) operations of such systems and technologies, including beyond visual line of sight; and (C) the societal and economic impacts of such operations. (3) Additional waiver authority.—In carrying out an expansion of the Program, the Administrator may waive the requirements of section 44711 of title 49, United States Code, including related regulations, under any BEYOND program agreement to the extent consistent with aviation safety.