What is LAANC?
This is an automated system created for drone pilots who want to fly at low altitudes – below 400 feet near airports. Their flights must be in controlled airspace with low-risk, such as some airports areas. Until now, each drone pilot must have for flight. And with LAANC the pilot will be able to fly in the low-risk zone of the airport’s area below 400 feet. The LAANC includes near 400 airports for which the approval is almost instant. For the rest, the application for approval is manual and it takes more time.
How you can use the LAANC?
There are two ways you can use it. The first one is if you are a 107 Part pilot or Recreational flyer. In this case, you can and in the specified controlled airspaces. The second way is to Submit a “further coordination request” ( available only for 107 Part Pilots). This request must be obtained 90 days before the flight and with it, the pilot is able to fly above the designed altitude of 400 feet. This approval goes throw manual coordination by the FAA.
In 2017 LAANC prototype was started. And in 2019 was expanded to recreational pilots. It makes applying to be easy and almost instant. Today all pilots need FAA approval to fly at night, but the LAANC expand their capability now.