FAA Announces LAANC Expansion to Major Airports, Adds New Pr…

The Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability has been a major success for the the FAA and the drone industry, representing new technology that dramatically improves the process of airspace authorizations for drone operators.  Yesterday, the FAA announced that LAANC has expanded to add 4 new airports in major urban areas – and has added 7 new companies to the list of authorized providers.

The following is an FAA press release.

WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced two important expansions of the Low Altitude Authorization and Capability (LAANC), which automates the application and approval process for drone operators to obtain airspace authorizations.

Four airports – Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Dulles International Airport, William P. Hobby Airport in Houston and Newark Liberty International Airport – joined the list of approximately 400 air traffic facilities covering about 600 airports where LAANC is available.

Access to the service is provided through one of the FAA-approved UAS Service Suppliers. The seven companies listed below are the latest to enter into partnerships with the agency, bringing the total to 21.

  • Airspacelink
  • Avision
  • Botlink
  • Collins Aerospace
  • Drone Up
  • Simulyze
  • Skygrid

LAANC, a collaboration between the FAA and the Unmanned Aircraft Systems(UAS) industry that directly supports the safe integration of UAS into the nation’s airspace, expedites the time it takes for drone pilots to receive authorizations to fly under 400 feet in controlled airspace. The service is accessible to all pilots who operate under the FAA’s small drone rule (PDF) (Part 107).

LAANC began as a prototype in 2017. To date, there have been more than 170,000 approved authorizations through LAANC. The program was expanded in July to provide near real-time airspace authorizations to recreational flyers.

The program’s continued expansion further increases the ability of drone pilots to gain safe and efficient access to controlled airspace nationwide.

For updates to LAANC capabilities, visit our website.

Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
Email Miriam
TWITTER:@spaldingbarker

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https://dronelife.com/2019/11/22/faa-announces-laanc-expansion-to-major-airports-adds-new-providers/

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