DroneSense now brings FAA airspace authorization directly into the drone operations workflow through its connection with Versaterm Aloft. DroneSense is an FAA-approved LAANC Supplemental Data Service Provider (SDSP), and Versaterm Aloft is an FAA-approved UAS Service Supplier (USS) for the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC), a collaboration between the FAA and private industry that streamlines the process of getting authorization to operate drones in controlled airspace.
With this integration, eligible drone pilots can submit FAA airspace authorization requests directly from DroneSense as part of their normal mission workflow, rather than coordinating authorization through a separate system. All LAANC authorization requests remain subject to FAA requirements and applicable airspace restrictions.
What LAANC Does
Under 14 CFR Part 107, remote pilots generally need FAA authorization before operating in controlled airspace. LAANC automates that authorization request for eligible Part 107 pilots in participating areas. Approved service providers exchange flight information with the FAA electronically, and when a request meets the requirements for automated authorization, the FAA can return a decision in near real time. The FAA remains the authority throughout. LAANC simply makes the eligible portion of that process faster.
How a Request Is Handled
- Submit: The pilot provides the planned operation's location, altitude, date, time, and duration.
- Evaluate: The request is checked against applicable FAA airspace data, including UAS Facility Maps.
- Authorize: If the request qualifies for automated authorization, a decision is returned in near real time. Requests outside those parameters may need additional coordination or manual review.
- Notify: Air traffic control is notified of the operation, supporting broader airspace awareness.
Eligibility
LAANC is available to remote pilots operating under 14 CFR Part 107. To participate, a pilot must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate and have their drone registered with the FAA.
Operating under a COA? LAANC eligibility depends on whether the individual pilot holds a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, not on whether your agency holds a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA).
If your pilots hold both a COA and a Part 107 certificate, LAANC is available for operations conducted under Part 107 authority, separately from operations conducted under the COA.
If your agency operates under a COA only, with pilots who are not Part 107-certified, LAANC is not available to those pilots. A COA's authorization is limited to its approved geographic area, and LAANC cannot extend coverage beyond it.
Learn More
For an overview of the integration, see LAANC Overview.
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