LAANC authorization is the FAA’s automated way to approve drone flights in controlled airspace near airports. Using an FAA-approved app, Part 107 remote pilots and recreational flyers can request access to Class B, C, D and airport surface Class E airspace, and when the request stays at or below the altitude shown on the UAS Facility Map, approval typically arrives in near real time. Requests above that altitude, or near airports where LAANC is not offered, take longer and must be planned in advance.
What Is LAANC?
LAANC stands for Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability. It is a collaboration between the FAA and industry under the FAA UAS Data Exchange: FAA-approved companies, known as UAS Service Suppliers, provide the desktop and mobile apps that connect pilots to FAA airspace data. The FAA keeps the current list of approved suppliers on its UAS Data Exchange (LAANC) page.
When you submit a request, it is checked against several FAA data sources, including UAS Facility Maps, special use airspace, airport and airspace class boundaries, Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) and NOTAMs. If the request meets the pre-approved criteria, the authorization is returned in near real time.
Just as important, the FAA states that LAANC provides airspace authorizations only. You must still check NOTAMs and weather, and comply with every other airspace restriction and operating rule. Unless your authorization specifically requires it, you do not need to notify the control tower before you fly.
When Do You Need an Airspace Authorization?
Under 14 CFR 107.41, no person may operate a small unmanned aircraft in Class B, Class C or Class D airspace, or within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport, without prior authorization from Air Traffic Control. The FAA directs all of these requests through LAANC or FAADroneZone; calling a local tower is not a substitute for a formal authorization.
Who Can Use LAANC
- Part 107 remote pilots must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate and register their drone. They can use both near real-time requests and further coordination requests.
- Recreational flyers operating under the exception for limited recreational operations (49 U.S.C. 44809) must register their drone if it weighs 250 grams or more and pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). They can request near real-time authorizations at or below Facility Map altitudes, but requests above those altitudes are not processed in LAANC for recreational flyers.
When Authorization Is Not Required
Class G (uncontrolled) airspace does not require an ATC authorization, but the rest of Part 107 still applies. Under 14 CFR 107.51 you must stay at or below 400 feet above ground level (unless you are within 400 feet of a structure), maintain at least 3 statute miles of flight visibility and keep the required cloud clearances. Section 107.43 also prohibits interfering with traffic patterns at any airport, heliport or seaplane base, controlled or not. Prohibited and restricted areas are a separate matter that LAANC does not cover; our guide to no-fly zones and restricted airspace explains those limits.
How UAS Facility Maps Set Your Altitude Limit
UAS Facility Maps divide the controlled airspace around airports into grids. Each grid shows the maximum altitude at which the FAA may authorize Part 107 operations without additional safety analysis. Your LAANC app displays these values automatically when you select an operating area.
The maps are informational only and do not authorize a flight on their own. Keep these points in mind when reading a grid:
- A request at or below the grid altitude is eligible for near real-time approval.
- A request above the grid altitude, up to 400 feet, requires further coordination and is available to Part 107 pilots only.
- Part 107 pilots may submit further coordination requests even in grids marked 0 feet, except for operations on the airport itself.
- Grids not serviced by LAANC require a request through FAADroneZone.
How to Request LAANC Authorization Step by Step
Each approved app has its own screens, but the workflow follows the same sequence the FAA describes for near real-time approvals.
- Confirm which rules apply. If the flight supports a business, client or employer in any way, plan it under Part 107 and have your Remote Pilot Certificate and drone registration ready. Recreational flyers need their TRUST completion and registration.
- Open an FAA-approved LAANC app and locate the area where you intend to operate.
- Define the operating area as tightly as practical and note the Facility Map altitude for each grid it touches.
- Enter the date, start time, duration and maximum altitude. For near real-time approval, choose an altitude at or below the grid value.
- Submit the request and read the response carefully. Record the approved area, altitude, time window and any special provisions, and keep the authorization available during the flight.
- Complete your preflight assessment. Section 107.49 requires the remote pilot in command to assess local weather, local airspace and any flight restrictions, people and property on the surface, and other ground hazards before flight. Check NOTAMs and TFRs again just before launch.
- Fly within the limits you were granted. If the time, location or altitude changes, submit a new request rather than stretching the existing authorization.
Near Real-Time Approval vs Further Coordination
LAANC offers two request types. The right one depends mainly on how high you need to fly relative to the Facility Map grid.
| Factor | Near real-time request | Further coordination request |
|---|---|---|
| Altitude | At or below the Facility Map grid altitude | Above the grid altitude, up to 400 feet |
| Who can use it | Part 107 pilots and recreational flyers | Part 107 pilots only |
| How it is approved | Automatically, when the request meets the criteria | Manually reviewed by the Air Traffic Manager for that airspace |
| When to submit | Up to 90 days in advance, including the day of the flight | At least 72 hours before the start time, and no more than 90 days in advance |
| Expected timing | Typically near real time | The FAA’s goal is under 30 days, but a decision may take up to 90 days and some requests expire unresolved |
Further coordination requests include a safety justification field, so briefly describe the operation, your risk controls and why the higher altitude is needed. If a request is denied, the facility may provide guidance so you can adjust the operation and resubmit. Under FAA rules for LAANC suppliers, a pending further coordination request is cancelled automatically three hours before its start time if the FAA has not decided it, so submit early.
When LAANC Is Not an Option: FAADroneZone
Some operations still require the manual route through FAADroneZone. According to the FAA, you should use FAADroneZone when:
- The airport or grid where you want to fly is not serviced by LAANC.
- Your operation in controlled airspace requires both a Part 107 waiver and an airspace authorization; in that case you apply for both through FAADroneZone.
- You already hold a Part 107 waiver and want to fly in controlled airspace under that waiver.
FAADroneZone requests are processed manually at FAA Air Traffic Service Centers and are not approved in near real time. The FAA’s Part 107 Airspace Authorizations page notes that processing has historically taken up to eight weeks, so recurring projects near busy airports should be planned well ahead. For disaster response and other emergencies, the FAA has a separate expedited process for first responders and the organizations supporting them.
Common LAANC Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating the Facility Map as permission. The map shows what may be approved; only an authorization lets you fly.
- Drifting outside the approved limits. The altitude, boundary and time window in your authorization are conditions of the approval, not guidelines.
- Assuming an authorization clears other restrictions. LAANC does not override TFRs, NOTAMs, prohibited or restricted areas, or the operating limits in 107.51.
- Overlooking night requirements. Routine Part 107 night operations no longer need a waiver, but the aircraft needs anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles, the pilot must have completed the initial knowledge test or training required under 107.65 after April 6, 2021, and controlled airspace still requires an authorization.
- Submitting further coordination too late. Requests made less than 72 hours before the start time cannot be accepted.
- Flying commercial work as a recreational flyer. The FAA treats tasks such as real estate photos and roof inspections as Part 107 operations, regardless of whether you are paid.
Building Airspace Skills Before You Need Them
Airspace classification, operating requirements and flight restrictions are among the FAA’s listed knowledge areas for the Part 107 Unmanned Aircraft General knowledge test, and they are the skills you use every time you request an authorization. Reading a sectional chart and interpreting a Facility Map grid makes LAANC requests faster and less error-prone. Our article on the most common Part 107 exam questions includes several airspace examples.
Drone Universities has trained pilots since 2014. Our FAA Certified Flight Instructors travel to your location anywhere in the United States, and our in-person Part 107 test preparation covers airspace, chart reading and authorization procedures in a one-on-one or group setting. For organizations that fly near airports, our corporate drone training helps teams adopt consistent LAANC and preflight procedures. To book a session, request training online or call 1.818.255.0406.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does LAANC stand for?
LAANC stands for Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability. It is the FAA and industry system that automates airspace authorizations for drone flights at or below 400 feet in controlled airspace.
How long does LAANC approval take?
Requests at or below the Facility Map altitude are typically approved in near real time. Further coordination requests are reviewed manually and can take up to 90 days.
Do I need to contact the control tower after I receive LAANC approval?
No. The FAA states that drone pilots do not need to notify the tower before flying unless the authorization specifically requires it.
Can recreational flyers use LAANC?
Yes. Recreational flyers who have passed TRUST and registered their drone where required can request near real-time authorizations at or below Facility Map altitudes. Further coordination requests are available only to Part 107 pilots.
What if the airport near my location does not offer LAANC?
Submit an airspace authorization request through FAADroneZone. These requests are processed manually, so apply well before your planned operation.
