The Fast Pass for Drones
By Rebekah Waters, FAA Safety Briefing Magazine
It’s a warm summer day, and you’ve decided to take your drone out for a spin. But then you realize you’re near an airport and you’ll need special permission to fly. Waiting for an airspace authorization used to be like waiting in line for a popular ride at a theme park. Thanks to the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC), the “fast pass” for drones, that wait time has been cut from days to almost seconds in some cases. With just a few taps on an app, remote pilots can receive near real-time authorization to fly in controlled airspace, making the skies more accessible while still keeping them safe.
Drone operators who want to fly in controlled airspace at or below 400 feet, around many airports, must receive an airspace authorization from the FAA. Before LAANC, pilots had to apply for authorizations through the FAA DroneZone. The FAA collaborated with industry to streamline the process and make it efficient for drone operators. Today, LAANC automates the application and approval process for airspace authorizations and offers near real-time approvals.
LAANC directly supports unmanned aircraft system (UAS) integration into the National Airspace System (NAS). It provides the framework that makes the automated application and approval process for airspace authorizations possible. Companies are approved by the FAA to provide LAANC services. Once approved, they become UAS service suppliers (USS). USSs provide desktop and/or mobile apps that utilize the LAANC capability to issue near real-time approvals. This is accomplished through the UAS data exchange, which facilitates the sharing of airspace data between the FAA and USS.
Born out of a partnership with industry that is focused on safety and efficiency, LAANC is your “fast pass” to the sky!
Drone pilots who want to fly in LAANC enabled controlled airspace at or below 400 feet use an FAA-approved USS app to request an airspace authorization. Requests are checked against multiple airspace data sources in the FAA UAS data exchange, such as UAS facility maps, special use airspace data, airports, and airspace classes, as well as temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) and notices to airmen (NOTAMS). If approved, the pilot receives the authorization in near real-time. Unless specifically requested in an authorization, drone pilots don’t need to notify the tower before they fly.
If you are thinking about requesting an airspace authorization through LAANC, here are some things to consider:
- Airspace authorizations are available to pilots flying under part 107 or the exception for recreational flyers.
- You can apply up to 90 days in advance of your operations, but it’s a good idea to apply at least a day or two before you want to fly. This is to give adequate time for air traffic control situational awareness.
- You can submit a “further coordination” request above the designated altitude ceiling in a UAS facility map up to 400 feet. This is only available for part 107 operations, and approval is coordinated manually through the FAA, so it will take longer.
- If you are planning an operation in controlled airspace that requires a waiver and an airspace authorization, you must apply for both through the FAA’s DroneZone. For more information on waivers go to bit.ly/107waiver.
Born out of a partnership with industry that is focused on safety and efficiency, LAANC is your “fast pass” to the sky! It is available at 597 LAANC-enabled facilities and 828 airports. If you want to fly near an airport that doesn’t participate in LAANC, you can request airspace authorization through FAA DroneZone. Remember, LAANC provides airspace authorizations only. Pilots must still check NOTAMs, weather conditions, and follow all airspace restrictions. To find a list of FAA-approved USS, go to bit.ly/LAANCsuppliers.
Rebekah Waters is an FAA Safety Briefing associate editor. She is a technical writer-editor in the FAA’s Flight Standards Service.
