2.6 LAANC and Airspace Authorization

FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate Exam

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1 Introduction to the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

FAA Part 107 Exam Overview Study Strategy and Test-Taking Tips

2 1. Regulations (14 CFR Part 107)

1.1 Applicability and Definitions (Subpart A) 1.2 Remote Pilot Certification (Subpart C) 1.3 Operating Rules Overview (Subpart B) 1.4 Registration and Marking Requirements 1.5 Remote Identification (Part 89) 1.6 Operations Over People (Subpart D) 1.7 Night Operations and Civil Twilight 1.8 Waivers and Authorizations (Subpart E) 1.9 Accident Reporting and Recordkeeping 1.10 Preflight Familiarization and Actions

3 2. Airspace Classification & Requirements

2.1 National Airspace System Overview 2.2 Class B Airspace 2.3 Class C and Class D Airspace 2.4 Class E and Class G Airspace 2.5 Reading Sectional Charts 2.6 LAANC and Airspace Authorization 2.7 TFRs and NOTAMs 2.8 Latitude, Longitude, and Navigation

4 3. Weather

3.1 Weather Theory and Atmospheric Basics 3.2 Wind, Turbulence, and Wind Shear 3.3 Clouds, Visibility, and Fog 3.4 Reading METAR Reports 3.5 Reading TAF Reports 3.6 Weather Hazards for Drone Operations 3.7 Weather Information Sources

5 4. Loading and Performance

4.1 Weight, Balance, and Center of Gravity 4.2 Density Altitude and Performance 4.3 Load Factor and Maneuvering 4.4 Battery Performance and Management 4.5 Performance Calculations and Limitations

6 5. Operations

5.1 Crew Resource Management (CRM) 5.2 Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) 5.3 Emergency Procedures 5.4 Physiological Factors Affecting Pilots 5.5 Radio Communication and Frequencies 5.6 Airport Operations and Traffic Patterns 5.7 Maintenance, Inspection, and Condition 5.8 Special Operations and Considerations 5.9 Flight Planning and Risk Mitigation 5.10 Sectional Chart Interpretation Exercises

2.6 LAANC and Airspace Authorization

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

LAANC gives near-real-time airspace authorization at roughly 726 airports nationwide.

UAS Facility Maps set the maximum auto-approvable altitude per grid cell, from 0 to 400 ft AGL.

Above the map value, or in a 0-foot cell, request further coordination through LAANC (at least 72 hours ahead; not for on-airport operations) or apply in DroneZone.

DroneZone authorizations have historically taken up to eight weeks but can exceed UASFM ceilings.

LAANC has served recreational flyers, as well as Part 107 pilots, since July 2019.

Last updated: October 2026

LAANC and Airspace Authorization

The Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) is the FAA's automated channel for granting drone authorizations in controlled airspace. It is the tool you will use most often in the field and a reliable source of exam questions.

What LAANC Is

LAANC is a partnership between the FAA and approved private companies that:

Automates the application and approval of airspace authorizations.

Returns approvals in near-real time , frequently within seconds.

Operates through FAA-approved third-party apps such as Aloft, Airspace Link, and others.

Covers roughly 726 airports and the associated ATC facilities nationwide.

Serves both Part 107 pilots and recreational flyers (who must also pass TRUST ), and has served recreational flyers since July 2019 (not 2024).

How a LAANC Request Flows

Request: enter your area, altitude, date, and time window in an approved app.

Automated cross-check against the FAA UAS Data Exchange: UAS Facility Maps , active TFRs , NOTAMs , Special Use Airspace , and airport/airspace-class data.

Decision: if the requested altitude is within the map's ceiling for every cell you cover, approval is automatic and near-instant.

Fly: operate within the authorized area, altitude, and time window only.

UAS Facility Maps (the Backbone)

UASFMs define, per grid cell, the highest altitude LAANC can auto-approve :

• UASFM cell value What LAANC will auto-approve
• 400 Up to 400 ft AGL (most permissive)
• 200 Up to 200 ft AGL
• 100 Up to 100 ft AGL
• 50 Up to 50 ft AGL

0 Nothing automatic; further coordination (at least 72 hours ahead; not for on-airport operations) or DroneZone

The FAA updates these maps periodically based on traffic analysis around each airport. Cells nearest the runways are lowest; cells far from the approach and departure paths trend toward the full 400 ft.

When LAANC Cannot Help

Situation Solution

Request exceeds the UASFM ceiling for a cell (up to 400 ft) LAANC further coordination, at least 72 hours ahead, or DroneZone

• Grid cell shows 0 ft LAANC further coordination (not for on-airport operations) or DroneZone
• Airport not in LAANC Manual DroneZone request
• Long multi-day operation Often better handled by a manual authorization
• The Manual DroneZone Process

When automation falls short, use the FAA DroneZone portal (faadronezone-access.faa.gov):

Submit a detailed request describing the operation.

Plan for processing that has historically taken up to eight weeks — start early.

The FAA can grant altitudes above the UASFM ceiling when the operation justifies it.

Approval typically carries specific conditions you must honor.

Worked Scenario

You need 350 ft AGL for a roof inspection inside Class D. The UASFM shows 200 ft for that cell. LAANC will auto-approve only up to 200 ft. To reach 350 ft you submit a LAANC further coordination request at least 72 hours ahead (an air traffic manager reviews it) or a DroneZone request weeks ahead, or you re-plan the mission to stay at or below 200 ft and get a near-real-time LAANC approval.

Best Practices and Traps

Request before you arrive — do not gamble on field-side approval.

Read the UASFM during planning so you know the ceiling before you commit.

A LAANC approval is not a Part 107 waiver: it grants airspace access only; the 400 ft AGL ceiling, VLOS, and weather minimums still apply.

Common trap: thinking LAANC’s automatic approval reaches above the map ceiling. It does not; above the map (up to 400 ft) you need a further coordination request, reviewed by an air traffic manager and submitted at least 72 hours ahead, or a DroneZone request.

Authorization vs. Waiver — A Distinction the Exam Tests

Candidates routinely confuse an airspace authorization with a Part 107 waiver , and the difference is worth nailing down. An authorization, whether through LAANC or DroneZone, simply grants permission to enter controlled airspace; it does not relax any operating rule. A waiver (filed through the FAA’s Aviation Safety Hub) is a separate instrument that permits operating outside a specific Part 107 rule — for example, flying beyond visual line of sight or over people without meeting the standard category requirements.

The exam likes to ask which document you need: to enter Class D you need an authorization ; to fly beyond VLOS you need a waiver . Mixing these up is a frequent error because both used to be filed in the same DroneZone portal.

Picking and Trusting a LAANC Provider

LAANC is delivered through FAA-approved third-party apps rather than a single FAA website, so the practical workflow is to keep one trusted app installed and verified before heading out. When you submit, the app cross-references the live UAS Data Exchange, so a TFR that popped up an hour ago will block the approval even if your chart is current. This is why a LAANC check doubles as a partial TFR check — but it does not replace a dedicated NOTAM and TFR review, because not every restriction flows through the same feed. Treat LAANC as your airspace gatekeeper and the FAA NOTAM system as your independent confirmation.

Worked Scenario

You arrive at a Class D site and your LAANC app returns an instant approval to 200 ft AGL valid for the next four hours. Mid-shoot you realize you need to drift the operation half a mile and climb to 250 ft. Because both changes push you outside the granted area and altitude, the original approval no longer covers you; you must submit a new LAANC request for the new cell and altitude before repositioning. If the new cell shows 0 ft, you stop and re-plan rather than fly on the expired terms. The exam rewards the pilot who understands that an authorization is bounded by its exact area, altitude, and time window.