LAANC and Airspace Authorizations
When a drone flight needs ATC authorization, how LAANC provides it in near-real time, and what to do where LAANC is not available.
Airspace rules apply to drones too. Under 14 CFR 107.41, no person may operate a small unmanned aircraft in Class B, C, D, or the surface area of Class E airspace without prior authorization from ATC. In Class G (uncontrolled) airspace — where much of the country's low-altitude airspace sits — no authorization is required, though all other Part 107 rules still apply.
LAANC
LAANC — the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability — is the system that makes controlled-airspace access practical. Through an FAA-approved app or web service you request authorization for a specific area and altitude; the request is checked against the UAS Facility Maps (grids showing the maximum altitude ATC has pre-approved for each area) and, if within the ceiling, authorization is granted in near-real time. If your requested altitude exceeds the grid ceiling, LAANC forwards a further coordination request to the facility.
Where LAANC is not available
Some airports and areas are not on LAANC. There you request authorization through the FAA DroneZone portal, which is a manual process that can take time — plan ahead.
Read the map first
The UAS Facility Maps tell you before you leave home whether an area is flyable and to what altitude. Combine that with the operating rules — authorization gets you into the airspace, but the 400-foot and visual-line-of-sight limits still apply.
---
*Reference and training only — not for navigation or as legal advice. Always consult the current 14 CFR, the AIM, your aircraft’s POH/AFM and a certificated flight instructor.*