You open your drone app at a park, and a warning says you're in controlled airspace. Now what? For years the answer was "apply and wait." Today, at hundreds of airports, it's "tap a few buttons and get an answer in seconds." That's LAANC. Its partner, B4UFLY, is the tool that tells you whether you need it in the first place.
This guide explains what each one does, how they differ, how to read the grid maps behind LAANC, and how to request authorization step by step, for both recreational flyers and Part 107 pilots. Everything here is checked against FAA sources as of August 2026.
The Short Answer
B4UFLY tells you where you can fly; LAANC gives you permission to fly in controlled airspace near airports, usually in near-real time, at or below the altitude shown on the FAA's UAS facility map grid.
- When you need it: any flight in Class B, C, D or surface-area Class E airspace, for recreational and Part 107 pilots alike.
- How: through an FAA-approved app, using your registration and your TRUST or Part 107 credentials.
- Limits: grid altitudes cap what LAANC approves automatically; only Part 107 pilots can request more through further coordination.
- Not covered: LAANC doesn't clear TFRs, stadium restrictions or land-use rules. Check those separately.
1. What B4UFLY and LAANC Actually Do
They're often bundled in the same apps, which is why people mix them up. They solve different problems.
| B4UFLY | LAANC | FAADroneZone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Shows where you can and can't fly | Requests airspace authorization | Registration, waivers, and authorizations LAANC can't handle |
| Grants permission? | No | Yes, often in near-real time | Yes, reviewed manually |
| Who uses it | Everyone, especially recreational flyers | Recreational and Part 107 pilots | Mostly Part 107 pilots; recreational flyers where LAANC isn't available |
| Above the grid altitude? | n/a | Part 107 only, via further coordination (up to 90 days ahead) | Yes, with a longer wait |
| How to access | FAA-approved apps | FAA-approved UAS Service Supplier apps | faadronezone.faa.gov |
B4UFLY: situational awareness
The FAA describes B4UFLY as a service that "shows where recreational flyers can and cannot fly." Since February 2024, recreational flyers have been able to choose among several FAA-approved companies that offer it in desktop and mobile apps. It shows controlled airspace, special use airspace, critical infrastructure, airports, national parks, military training routes and temporary flight restrictions, with a status indicator for your location. It doesn't grant authorization. It tells you whether you need one.
LAANC: the authorization
The FAA's LAANC page calls it "a collaboration between FAA and Industry" that gives drone pilots access to controlled airspace at or below 400 feet. Approved UAS Service Suppliers send your request to the FAA, and "if approved, pilots can receive their authorization in near-real time." Publicly available LAANC providers include Aloft, Airspace Link, AutoPylot, Avision and others listed on the FAA site; several of the same companies also provide B4UFLY.
Why authorization is required
Part 107 pilots need prior air traffic control authorization to fly in Class B, C or D airspace or the surface area of Class E designated for an airport, under 14 CFR 107.41. The FAA's recreational flyer rules say the same for hobbyists: fly in controlled airspace "only with prior FAA authorization by using LAANC or DroneZone."
2. Reading UAS Facility Map Grids
LAANC is built on the FAA's UAS facility maps. Each airport's controlled airspace is divided into grid squares, and each square shows the maximum altitude the FAA may authorize there.
What the numbers mean
The FAA explains that the maps show "maximum altitudes around airports where the FAA may authorize part 107 UAS operations." As an example, a square near a runway end might show 0, meaning no automatic approval, while squares farther out might show 100, 200 or 400 feet. The actual values vary from airport to airport, so always read the grid for your spot. A request at or below the grid number can be approved automatically through LAANC.
The maps don't authorize anything
The FAA is explicit: "These maps DO NOT authorize operations in these areas at the depicted altitudes." They show what's likely to be approved. You still have to submit a request and receive an approval before you take off.
Above the grid: further coordination
If a Part 107 job needs more altitude than the grid allows, LAANC offers further coordination: the request goes to the FAA for manual review and can be submitted up to 90 days in advance. Recreational flyers can't use further coordination. If your flight needs more than the grid allows, pick a different spot or fly lower.
Planning around the grid
Before you promise a client a shot or drive to a new spot, open the facility map and look at the grids around it. For example, if your site sits in a 100-foot square next to a 0, move your launch point so the whole flight area falls in the 100. If you need 200 feet for a roof inspection and the grid says 100, request further coordination early or schedule the job somewhere else. Five minutes with the map saves a wasted trip.
3. How to Get LAANC Authorization, Step by Step
Here's the process in a typical FAA-approved app. Menus differ slightly between providers, but the information is the same.
The request
- Have your credentials ready: your FAA registration number, plus your Part 107 certificate number or TRUST completion for recreational flights.
- Open an FAA-approved LAANC app and choose recreational or Part 107.
- Draw your flight area on the map. Keep it tight around where you'll actually fly; it can span grid squares.
- Set the altitude at or below the lowest grid value inside your area.
- Pick the date, start time and duration, then submit.
- Wait for the approval (usually seconds), and keep the approval on your phone for the flight.
- Fly inside the limits. Stay within the area, altitude and time window you were approved for.
What LAANC doesn't cover
The FAA notes that LAANC provides airspace authorizations only. You still need to check NOTAMs, temporary flight restrictions and weather. Stadium restrictions still apply within three nautical miles of covered events. Land-use rules, such as state or national park bans, are separate too. And unless your authorization says so, you don't need to call the control tower before flying.
When LAANC isn't available
Not every controlled airport participates in LAANC, and some areas are too sensitive for automatic approval. In those cases, Part 107 pilots request authorization through FAADroneZone, which takes longer, so plan ahead. Recreational flyers can also use DroneZone where LAANC isn't available. If you see a 0 grid around the area you wanted, consider a different location.
Common mistakes we see
Requesting the whole afternoon at 400 feet when the grid says 100. Getting approval for the wrong day. Letting an authorization expire mid-flight because the battery swap took longer than planned. Forgetting that a TFR overrides a LAANC approval. And assuming a DJI app warning is the same as FAA authorization: it isn't.
Conclusion
B4UFLY answers "can I fly here?" and LAANC answers "may I fly here?" Use the first every time you pick a spot, and the second whenever you're in controlled airspace. Keep your request within the grid altitude, keep your approval handy, and remember that TFRs and land-owner rules still apply. None of that changes with the FCC's Covered List decisions, which affect what drones can be sold, not the FAA's airspace rules.
Want to understand airspace inside and out? Our Part 107 ground school covers sectional charts, airspace classes and LAANC in depth. Or stop by the Cumming showroom and browse drones in stock.
Gear Mentioned in This Guide
DJI Mavic 4 Pro with DJI RC 2
A pro camera drone that often works near controlled airspace.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is B4UFLY the same as LAANC?
No. B4UFLY shows where you can and can't fly, including controlled airspace and TFRs, but it doesn't grant permission. LAANC is the system that issues authorization to fly in controlled airspace. Many apps offer both.
Can recreational flyers use LAANC?
Yes. Recreational flyers who have registered their drone (if required) and passed TRUST can request LAANC authorization at or below the grid altitude. Only Part 107 pilots can request further coordination above the grid.
How long does LAANC approval take?
Requests at or below the UAS facility map altitude are usually approved in near-real time, often within seconds. Part 107 further coordination requests are reviewed manually and can be submitted up to 90 days in advance.
Do I need to call the control tower after getting LAANC?
Usually not. The FAA says pilots don't need to notify the tower before flying unless the authorization specifically requires it. Read the approval for any special provisions.
What does a 0 on the LAANC grid mean?
It means the FAA won't approve flights there automatically through LAANC. Part 107 pilots may be able to request further coordination or a DroneZone authorization, but approval isn't guaranteed. Recreational flyers should pick another location.
Do I need LAANC under 400 feet?
Only if you're in controlled airspace. In uncontrolled Class G airspace you can fly at or below 400 feet without authorization. In Class B, C, D or surface-area Class E airspace you need authorization at any altitude.
