Why we don't just say “yes”
Airspace authorization depends on live FAA grids, temporary restrictions, and conditions that change by the hour. Any tool that confidently tells you “you can fly here” from a static map is misleading. The real check happens in an FAA-approved app; we'll teach you to read it and send you straight there.
Check a specific location
Enter an address, city, or place to check. We'll hand you off to the FAA-approved B4UFLY map (operated by Aloft) in a new tab, that's where the authoritative airspace classification, altitude ceilings, and LAANC authorization actually live. We don't guess at a verdict here.
Opens aloft.ai. The verdict you see there, not here, is the one that counts. Always confirm conditions on the day you fly; airspace and temporary restrictions change.
Controlled vs. uncontrolled airspace
Uncontrolled (Class G)
Most rural and suburban areas away from airports. You can fly up to 400 ft above ground level without asking anyone's permission, but the standard safety rules still apply.
Controlled (B / C / D / surface E)
The airspace around airports. You must get FAA authorization before you fly, almost always instantly via LAANC. Your altitude ceiling is set by the LAANC grid and can be well below 400 ft.
The 400-foot rule
In uncontrolled airspace, the ceiling is 400 ft AGL (Part 107 lets you exceed it only within 400 ft of a structure you're inspecting). In controlled airspace, the LAANC grid sets your ceiling, it may be 300 ft, 100 ft, or even 0 ft, meaning no automatic authorization is available and you'd need a separate FAA approval.
What is LAANC, and why it's the real authorization path
LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) is the FAA system that automates airspace authorization for flights under 400 ft in controlled airspace. You request it through an FAA-approved app and usually get approval in seconds. It's available to both recreational flyers and Part 107 pilots.
LAANC is the actual mechanism that makes your controlled-airspace flight legal, not a map color or a green checkmark. As of June 2026, the most widely used FAA-approved app is Aloft Air Aware; the FAA's public B4UFLY awareness service is also operated by Aloft. Other FAA-approved providers include AirHub (Airspace Link) and Avision.
How to check THIS location, step by step
- 1
Open an FAA-approved checker
Install the FAA's B4UFLY service (operated by Aloft) or an FAA-approved LAANC app. Aloft Air Aware is the most widely used; AirHub (Airspace Link) and Avision are other FAA-approved providers.
- 2
Enter your exact takeoff location
Type the address or drop a pin where you'll actually launch. Airspace can change within a few blocks; check the precise spot, not just the city.
- 3
Read the airspace class and ceiling
The app shows whether you're in uncontrolled (Class G) or controlled airspace, and the maximum altitude you're allowed. A '0 ft' grid means no automatic authorization is available there.
- 4
Request LAANC if you're in controlled airspace
If you're near an airport, request authorization through LAANC in the app. Most requests are approved in seconds. Carry the approval with you when you fly.
- 5
Check for TFRs and special rules
Look for Temporary Flight Restrictions (sports events, VIP movement, wildfires, disasters) and standing no-fly zones: national parks, stadiums, restricted/prohibited areas, and over military facilities.
Places that are off-limits, even in “green” airspace
Uncontrolled airspace on the map does not mean “fly anywhere.” The following are restricted regardless of airspace class:
- •National parks: drone takeoff, landing, and operation is prohibited on National Park Service land.
- •Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs): sporting events, VIP/Presidential movement, wildfires, and disaster zones.
- •Stadiums and large sporting venues: a standing TFR bans drones within 3 nautical miles from 1 hour before to 1 hour after major games.
- •Restricted, prohibited, and special-use airspace: military ranges, sensitive federal facilities, and Washington, DC's Special Flight Rules Area.
- •Over critical infrastructure and military bases where additional FAA security restrictions apply.
Educational, not legal advice. Rules current as of June 2026; verify before you fly at faa.gov/uas. The authoritative airspace check happens in an FAA-approved app (B4UFLY / Aloft Air Aware), not on this page. Sources: FAA UAS airspace and LAANC guidance, FAA B4UFLY, and FAA Part 107.