LAANC starts go live in some areas and allow Drones Access to Controlled Airspace

The following is a guest post by talented Part 107 Pilot and author, Kara Murphy.

The FAA launched its much-anticipated Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) system. The program, currently in beta, includes 300 air traffic facilities covering approximately 500 airports.

As of April 30th, remote pilots can request instant access to controlled airspace in the South Central region of the US. What does this mean? Instead of waiting up to 90 days for authorization in controlled airspaces, approval can be acquired almost instantaneously. The remaining regional roll out dates for LAANC are as follows:

May 24th: Western North
June 21st: Western South
July 19th: Eastern South
August 16th: Eastern North
September 13th: Central North

There are several ways to easily access LAANC. One is through AirMap. They recently released a comprehensive solution  that’s compatible with most DJI drones. Remote Pilots can open the app, plan a flight, acquire instant airspace authorization, adjust camera settings, plus get other pertinent information needed to conduct a safe and compliant flight. Skyward is another viable option.

Businesses looking provide LAANC capabilities can apply to become Approved UAS Service Suppliers (USS) until May 16th.

Here is an alphabetical list of the current LAANC-compliant airports:

Abilene Regional Airport (ABI), Abilene, TX
Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI), Springfield, IL
Addison Airport (ADS), Addison, TX
Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZAB)
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), Albuquerque, NM
Angelina County Airport (LFK), Diboll, TX
Aransas County Airport (RKP), Rockport, TX
Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Austin, TX
Bartlesville Municipal Airport (BVO), Bartlesville, OK
Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR), Baton Rouge, LA
Bentonville Municipal Airport (VBT), Bentonville, AR
Bisbee Douglas International Airport (DUG), Douglas, AZ
Cavern City Air Terminal (CNM), Carlsbad, NM
Chanute Martin Johnson Airport (CNU), Chanute, KS
Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC), Kansas City, MO
Childress Municipal Airport (CDS), Childress, TX
Clinton National Airport (LIT), Little Rock, AR
Colonel James Jabara Airport (AAO), Wichita, KS
Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP), Corpus Christi, TX
Dalhart Municipal Airport (DHT), Dalhart, Texas
Dallas Love Field (DAL), Dallas, TX
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport (DWH), Spring, TX
Deming Municipal Airport (DMN), Deming, NM
Dodge City Regional Airport (DDC), Dodge City, KS
East Texas Regional Airport (GGG), Longview, TX
El Paso International Airport (ELP), El Paso, TX
Emporia Municipal Airport (EMP), Emporia, KS
Falcon Field Airport (FFZ), Mesa, AZ
Fort Smith Regional Airport (FSM), Fort Smith, AR
Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW), Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Meacham International Airport (FTW), Fort Worth, TX
Ft. Worth Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZFW)
Gallup Municipal Airport (GUP), Gallup, NM
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Houston, TX
Gulfport–Biloxi International Airport (GPT), Gulfport, MS
Hattiesburg–Laurel Regional Airport (PIB), Moselle, MS
Hays Regional Airport (HYS), St, Hays, KS
Jack Brooks Regional Airport (BPT), Beaumont, TX
Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZKC)
Kansas City International Airport (MCI), Kansas City, MO
Kirksville Regional Airport (IRK), Kirksville, MO
LAANC at Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZHU)
Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT), Lafayette, LA
Lake Charles Regional Airport (LCH), Lake Charles, LA
Lakefront Airport (NEW), New Orleans, LA
Las Vegas Municipal Airport (LVS), Las Vegas, NM
Lawrence Municipal Airport (LWC), Lawrence, KS
Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport (LBL), Liberal, KS
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), Kenner, LA
Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB), Lubbock, TX
McAlester Regional Airport (MLC), McAlester, OK
McComb–Pike County Airport (MCB), McComb, MS
Midland International Air and Space Port (MAF), Midland, TX
Mineral Wells Airport (MWL), Mineral Wells, TX
Mobile Regional Airport (MOB), Mobile, AL
Monett Municipal Airport (HFJ), Pierce City, MO
Monroe Regional Airport (MLU), Monroe, LA
Mount Vernon Airport (MVN), Mt Vernon, IL
Newton City/County Airport (EWK), Newton, Kansas
Palacios Municipal Airport (PSX), Palacios, TX
Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT), Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Phoenix, AZ (already live)
Ponca City Regional Airport (PNC), Ponca City, OK
Prescott Municipal Airport, Ernest A. Love Field (PRC), Prescott, AZ
Quincy Regional Airport (UIN), Quincy, IL
Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport (RVS), Tulsa, OK
Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (AMA), Amarillo, TX
Rolla National Airport (VIH), Rolla, MO
Roswell International Air Center (ROW), Roswell, NM
San Antonio International Airport (SAT), San Antonio, TX
Scottsdale Airport (SDL), Scottsdale, AZ
Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV), Shreveport, LA
South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field (ELD), El Dorado, AR
Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS), Chesterfield, MO
Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF), Springfield, MO
St. Louis Downtown Airport (CPS), Cahokia, IL
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), St. Louis, MO
Truth or Consequences Municipal Airport (TCS), Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
Tucson International Airport (TUS), Tucson, AZ
Tucumcari Municipal Airport (TCC), Tucumcari, NM
Tulsa International Airport (TUL), Tulsa, OK
Waco Regional Airport (ACT), Waco, TX
Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT), Wichita, KS
Will Rogers World Airport (OKC), Oklahoma City, OK
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), Houston, TX
Winkler County Airport (INK), Wink, TX
Winslow–Lindbergh Regional Airport (INW), Winslow, AZ

Please visit http://karaemurphy.co and let me know your thoughts by reaching out directly.

Kara Murphy is a Part 107-certified commercial remote pilot and freelance writer residing in Michigan. Follow her aerial imagery on Instagram and learn more, here.