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Drone Authority
Drone controller and phone showing an airspace authorization appLAANC · UASFM

Flying legally

How to get LAANC authorization

LAANC, the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability, is how you get near-instant FAA approval to fly in controlled airspace under 400 feet. Instead of waiting weeks for a manual authorization, you tap a few fields in an app and get an answer in seconds. Here is how to use it.

Verified June 13, 2026. Educational, not legal advice. FAA rules change, so confirm current requirements at faa.gov/uas before you fly.

Time

About 15 minutes

Cost

Free

What you need

  • A registered drone
  • TRUST (recreational) or Part 107 (commercial)
  • An approved LAANC app

What LAANC actually is

Most of the airspace around airports is “controlled,” and you cannot legally fly a drone there without permission. LAANC is the automated system that grants that permission. You request a location, time, and altitude through an approved app, the system checks it against pre-approved limits, and, if you are within them, it authorizes you on the spot.

It is available to both recreational flyers and Part 107 pilots, and requests can be submitted up to 90 days in advance of your planned flight.

Do you even need LAANC?

Only if you are flying in controlled airspace: Class B, C, D, or the surface-area portions of Class E, which surround airports. If your spot is in uncontrolled Class G airspace (most rural and suburban areas away from airports), you do not need LAANC at all.

Check the airspace first

Run your location through our Can I fly here? tool or a B4UFLY-approved app. If it comes back green and uncontrolled, you can skip the rest of this guide.

Get authorized, step by step

  1. Make sure you meet the prerequisites

    Your drone must be registered. Recreational flyers need to have passed TRUST; Part 107 pilots need a current Remote Pilot Certificate. LAANC does not replace either.

  2. Download an approved LAANC app

    Use an FAA-approved service supplier: Aloft and AirMap are the common ones. These same companies provide the B4UFLY situational- awareness service. Create an account and add your pilot details.

  3. Drop a pin and set your altitude

    Select the exact location, date, and time window you want to fly, then choose your maximum altitude. The app overlays the UAS Facility Map grid so you can see the ceiling for each square.

  4. Submit and get your answer

    If your requested altitude is at or below the grid value, approval is automatic and near-instant. Request above the grid value and it is routed to air traffic control for further coordination, which takes longer and is not guaranteed.

  5. Fly within the authorization

    Stay inside the approved location, time, and altitude. Keep proof of the authorization accessible in case you are asked for it.

Reading the UAS Facility Maps

LAANC works off the FAA's UAS Facility Maps, a grid laid over controlled airspace where each square shows the maximum altitude the FAA will auto-approve there. Near a runway, that ceiling might be 0 feet (no automatic approval); a few miles out it might be 200 or 400 feet.

A 0-foot grid means no auto-approval

If your square reads 0 feet, LAANC will not authorize you automatically. You would need a separate, manually-coordinated authorization, or you pick a different, less-restricted spot to fly.

Recreational vs. Part 107: the small difference

The process is nearly identical for both. The differences:

  • Recreational flyers must have TRUST and are limited to the auto-approved grid altitudes.
  • Part 107 pilots can request authorizations above the grid value for further ATC coordination, which recreational flyers cannot do through LAANC.

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