If you plan to fly a drone near any airport with an active control tower, you need authorization before you launch. LAANC (the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) is how most pilots get it. It turns a process that used to take 90 days into something you can complete in under a minute.
Here is everything you need to know to use it correctly.
What LAANC Is
LAANC is an FAA system that automates airspace authorization for UAS operations in controlled airspace. It connects drone pilots directly to FAA Air Traffic Control systems in real time, allowing instant approval for flights in Class B, C, D, and E surface airspace up to the authorized altitude grid.
Before LAANC launched in 2018, every controlled airspace authorization required a manual application through the FAA's DroneZone portal with a 90-day processing window. LAANC replaced that for the vast majority of routine operations. Manual authorization through DroneZone still exists, but only for situations LAANC cannot handle.
How It Works
The FAA divides controlled airspace around airports into a grid of cells, each with a maximum authorized altitude for UAS operations, typically 0 ft, 50 ft, 100 ft, 200 ft, or 400 ft. These cells are called UAS Facility Maps (UASFMs).
When you request authorization through a LAANC-enabled app, the app checks your requested altitude against the facility map for that cell. If your altitude is at or below the authorized ceiling, you receive instant approval. If your requested altitude exceeds the ceiling, the request is escalated to a manual FAA review.
Authorization is linked to a specific location, altitude, date, and time window. It is not a blanket permission to fly anywhere near the airport.
Which Apps Support LAANC
LAANC is available through FAA-approved UAS Service Suppliers (USS). The major ones in the US:
- Aloft (formerly Kittyhawk): widely used, free tier available, clean interface
- DroneUp: FAA-approved, also offers commercial flight services
- Airmap: international focus, US LAANC supported
- DJI Fly / DJI Go: built-in LAANC for DJI aircraft, hardware-locked
- Foreflight: manned aviation platform with UAS LAANC integration
The FAA maintains the official list of approved USS providers at faa.gov. Any app claiming LAANC support that is not on that list is not providing real FAA authorization.
When LAANC Is Not Available
Not every location in controlled airspace has LAANC coverage. Common situations where it is unavailable:
- Airspace within 0 ft authorized altitude zones (the UASFM cell allows no UAS operations)
- Airspace near airports that have not yet been onboarded to LAANC (smaller facilities)
- Operations above the facility map ceiling for a given cell
- Temporary restrictions that override LAANC coverage
In these cases, the only path to legal authorization is a manual application through FAA DroneZone. Processing typically takes 30-90 days. If your operation is time-sensitive and LAANC is unavailable, plan well ahead.
Some controllers at Class D airports will also accept direct coordination by phone as an alternative to formal authorization for brief operations. This is at the controller's discretion and should never be assumed; always attempt LAANC or DroneZone first.
What LAANC Authorization Does Not Cover
LAANC authorizes entry into controlled airspace up to a specified altitude. It does not:
- Override active TFRs: a LAANC authorization is void inside a TFR
- Authorize flight over people without a separate Part 107.39 Category waiver
- Waive any other Part 107 requirements (VLOS, Remote ID, weather minimums)
- Apply outside the specific location, time window, and altitude you requested
Always check for active TFRs separately before relying on a LAANC authorization. A TFR issued after your authorization was granted supersedes it.
The Step-by-Step Authorization Flow
- Check airspace class at your planned flight location (use UAS SkyCheck or SkyVector)
- If controlled airspace: open a LAANC-approved app (Aloft, DroneUp)
- Enter your flight location, planned altitude, date, and time window
- Submit the request: instant approval if altitude is within the facility map ceiling
- Save or screenshot the authorization confirmation before flying
- Check for active TFRs separately: LAANC does not check these for you
- Do not fly until authorization is confirmed in the app
Class D Tower Hours and LAANC
Many Class D airports have towers that close at night. When the tower closes, the Class D airspace reverts to Class G (uncontrolled) and no LAANC authorization is required. Tower hours vary by airport and are published in the Chart Supplement.
UAS SkyCheck checks tower hours in real time and shows you the current airspace class based on whether the tower is open or closed, so you know whether authorization is actually required at the moment you plan to fly.
Recreational Pilots Need LAANC Too
LAANC is not only for Part 107 operators. Recreational flyers under 49 U.S.C. §44809 are also required to obtain LAANC authorization (or a manual DroneZone waiver) before flying in Class B, C, D, or surface Class E airspace.
The process is identical: use an FAA-approved LAANC app, enter your location and altitude, and receive authorization before launch. The only difference is your legal basis: commercial pilots fly under Part 107, recreational pilots fly under §44809. LAANC covers both.
If you are a recreational flyer and have not yet completed TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test), do that first; TRUST is required before your first recreational flight. See the TRUST guide for the full details.
UAS SkyCheck shows your airspace class, LAANC availability, and tower status in every check. Try it free at uas-skycheck.app, no account required.