Automated airspace authorizations are
finally coming.
The long and clumsy process of
obtaining airspace authorizations from the FAA has
tormented remote pilots for 18 months. With the new
LAANC process, drone operators will be able to receive
instant authorizations online. The system has been
operational under limited conditions for several months,
but the FAA announced today (3/6/18) that LAANC would
start official operations at the end of April.
Here are the scheduled release
dates for the various regions:
The social media controversy sadly
continues. Too many Remote Pilots don't understand when
and if an Airspace Authorization is required where Class
E is involved. This video gives you the definitive
answer.
Join hundreds of other Gold Seal
drone pilots in our free Facebook group:
Whether you are already flying as a
Remote Pilot, or are preparing for your Part 107 exam,
there is one topic that people keep getting wrong. Even
some of the best-known test prep websites are teaching
it wrong. This is likely the most misunderstood
scenario in the commercial drone pilot world: maximum
altitudes for tower inspections.
In the Part 107 regulations (§107.51),
it is common knowledge that Remote Pilots may generally
fly no higher than 400 feet. Everyone knows this one. It
is also a well-known exception that Remote Pilots may
fly higher than 400 feet when flying within a 400 foot
radius of a structure (maximum altitude: 400 feet higher
than the top of the structure).
So far, so good. The confusion
appears when drone pilots start to consider Class E
airspace and the need for Airspace Authorizations.
Part 107
specifies certain classes of airspace (§107.41)
where an Airspace Authorization is required. In
reference to Class E, the regulation clearly states that
an Airspace Authorization is required to operate under
Part 107 in Class E surface areas that are designated
for an airport. (Almost all Class E surface areas ARE
designated for airports.)
Class E airspace can start at the surface (dashed
magenta outline), start at 700 feet AGL (shaded magenta
outline), or at 1200 feet AGL (the default). Of these
three, only the Class E surface areas require
Authorizations. This is the fundamental point and
the issue where the misconceptions begin.
No Airspace Authorizations are needed to operate in
Class E that starts at 700 or 1200 feet AGL.
This brings us to the scenario. This exact one appeared
on YouTube and Facebook in December, 2017,
by a well-known test prep provider. Referring to the
tower shown below, what is the maximum altitude you may
fly when remaining within 400 feet of the tower?
The tower stands 889 feet above ground level. Class G
airspace begins at the surface. Class E airspace starts
at 1200 feet above the surface. The videos state that
you may not fly higher than 1200 AGL during the tower
inspection because an Authorization is required to fly
in Class E. Thus, they gave the answer as 1200 feet AGL.
THIS IS INCORRECT. (Only Class E surface areas
require Authorizations.)
The correct answer to the question in this scenario is
400 feet above the top of the tower. This is 1289 feet
AGL.
UAS Facility Maps Are Here
In what we hope will be the FAA's
first move toward automation, the FAA has released its
initial round of UAS Facility Maps. These show airspace
grids with maximum altitudes and are intended to ease
the job of seeking (and receiving) airspace
authorizations. This first set of grids cover Class E
surface areas.
At this point the grids are informational only. Each
square shows a maximum altitude which the FAA finds
acceptable for UAS operations. Click on a square and a
box will appear showing the airport ID, airspace Class,
and the lat/long defining a central point in that grid
square. We believe that using this information, you will
be more likely to successfully submit an Airspace
Authorization request. The next set of
grids is scheduled for a June 22 release and should
include a mixture of Class B, C, and D grids. A third
release is scheduled for August 17.
We believe that this will become the precursor to an
automated system where you may click on a grid, agree to
the default restrictions, and be granted a swift, if not
immediate, approval or denial.
