LAANC in 2026: What's Changed and What Hasn't

What LAANC still is

LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) is the FAA's automated system for getting near-instant authorization to fly in controlled airspace under Part 107. You request it through an approved provider (Aloft, Airmap, etc.) and most requests come back in under a minute.

It covers Class B, C, D, and surface-area E airspace up to published ceiling altitudes (the UAS Facility Map grid).

What hasn't changed

• You still need an authorization for any controlled airspace, even at 50 ft
• You still can't use LAANC for night operations beyond the standard Part 107 rules
• You still need a manual FAA waiver for anything above grid ceilings or in special-use airspace
• LAANC is free

What's changed

• More towers now publish higher grid ceilings (good — fewer manual waivers)
• Most providers now support batch authorizations for multi-stop days
• Remote ID is fully enforced — your aircraft must broadcast or you're grounded regardless of authorization

How this affects your quote

If the job is in controlled airspace, build in:

• 5-15 minutes for the LAANC request (sometimes longer if it kicks to manual review)
• A go/no-go buffer if the grid ceiling is below what the job needs
• A line item or note explaining airspace complexity if the client asks why a similar job near a small airport costs more

The calculator handles this automatically — it adds time and surfaces airspace risk in the price breakdown.

Build a LAANC-aware quote →