Part 107 has a requirement that remote pilots must receive ATC authorisation before operating in controlled airspace. This authorisation is administered through a waiver application process, which can take up to 90 days to deliver. It’s not surprising then that a system to alleviate those return times is being developed, so that the true value of the drone industry (estimated at $127 billion globally) can be fully capitalised on.
LAANC has arrived with AirMap and the FAA UAS Facility Maps, which shows specific areas and altitudes near airports where drone operators can request airspace authorisation effectively, and where remote pilots can learn more about the controlled airspace in which they intend to operate, adjusting their flight plans to fit within those requirements if necessary. Most significantly, it can hugely minimise the time it takes for FAA approval.
The release of the FAA UAS Facility Maps covers 327 airports so far, which amounts to over 60% of surface controlled airspace across the US. Fourteen of the 103 recently added airports are in Class B major metro areas, which signals great intent for opening the skies to business.
The next development is for LAANC to evolve into a digital and automated process, with instantaneous authorisation on the AirMap platform. Meanwhile, fifty US airports provide LAANC authorisation by the end of the year, as a trial to demonstrate how Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) will work in the US.
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