Guide · Part 107 pilots

LAANC vs Part 107 Waiver: Which Do You Need?

LAANC and a Part 107 waiver sound similar but solve different problems. This guide walks through the difference, six common Part 107 scenarios, and how each pathway should change what you quote.

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LAANC vs Part 107 waiver at a glance

Scan first, then read the scenarios below for how each one plays out on a real job.

Dimension	LAANC	Part 107 waiver
Purpose	Authorizes flight in controlled airspace (Class B, C, D, surface E) at or below the UAS Facility Map grid ceiling.	Exempts you from a specific Part 107 operating rule (over people, BVLOS, altitude, multiple aircraft, etc.).
Eligibility	Any Part 107 remote pilot. Flight must be at or below the published grid altitude in a LAANC-participating facility's airspace.	Any Part 107 remote pilot who can present a written safety case showing the proposed operation is at least as safe as the rule being waived.
How you file	Free, through an FAA-approved app (Aloft, AutoPylot, Airmap, Skyward). Draw the operating area, request altitude + window, submit.	Free, through FAA DroneZone. Long-form application with concept of operations, risk assessment, mitigations, and pilot qualifications.
Processing time	Seconds for auto-approval. Days to weeks if the request triggers Further Coordination (above grid ceiling).	60–90 days typical. Complex waivers (BVLOS, ops over open-air assemblies) often longer, with FAA follow-up questions.
Validity	Only the requested operating window (often a single shift, up to 12 hours).	Whatever the FAA grants — commonly 2–4 years, renewable, often tied to specific aircraft, pilots, or sites.
Typical use cases	Real estate near a Class D airport. Roof inspections under a Class C shelf. Any standard Part 107 job in controlled airspace below the grid.	Operations over people, BVLOS pipeline / linear surveys, above-400-ft tower inspections, swarm or one-to-many operations, stadium and event flyovers.
Cost to your quote	10–20 minutes of planning per job. Bake into your hourly rate; not a line item.	4–10 hours building the safety case, plus 60–90 day lead time. Charge for it explicitly and require a signed contract before starting.

Short answer first

LAANC unlocks airspace. A Part 107 waiver unlocks an operating limit. They solve different problems and you may need one, the other, or both for the same job. If your only constraint is controlled airspace at or below the grid ceiling, you need LAANC. If you're breaking a Part 107 rule (night before 2021, over people, BVLOS, above 400 ft AGL, multiple aircraft per pilot), you need a waiver.

Side-by-side comparison

LAANC: authorizes flight in controlled airspace (Class B/C/D/surface E), filed through an approved app (Aloft, AutoPylot, Airmap, Skyward), free, auto-approved in seconds at or below the grid ceiling, valid for the requested window only. Part 107 waiver: exempts you from a specific Part 107 rule, filed through FAA DroneZone with a written safety case, free, 60–90 days for review, valid for the duration the FAA grants (often 2–4 years and renewable).

Scenario 1 — Real estate shoot, Class D airspace, daytime, 200 ft AGL

LAANC only. You're in controlled airspace below the grid ceiling, flying under standard Part 107 rules. Open your LAANC app, draw the property, request 200 ft, get auto-approved in seconds. No waiver needed.

Scenario 2 — Roof inspection in Class G, but the client wants night ops

Neither — under current Part 107 rules (post-April 2021), night flight is permitted without a waiver as long as your aircraft has anti-collision lighting visible for 3 statute miles. Class G airspace doesn't need LAANC. Just brief the client on the lighting requirement and bill for the after-hours premium.

Scenario 3 — Mapping mission over an active construction crew

Waiver (or Operations Over People compliance). Flying directly over people who aren't part of your operation requires either a Category 1–4 drone meeting the OOP rule or a 107.39 waiver. If you're in controlled airspace, you also need LAANC on top of that. Quote enough lead time on the contract — waivers take months, not days.

Scenario 4 — Tower inspection requiring 450 ft AGL

Waiver from 107.51(b) (altitude). LAANC won't help here — the grid ceiling rarely exceeds 400 ft and the 400 ft AGL limit is a Part 107 rule, not an airspace boundary. You'll need an altitude waiver, and you may also need LAANC if the tower is in controlled airspace. The 107.51 altitude waiver near a structure has a specific exception: you can already fly within 400 ft of a structure if you stay within 400 ft laterally of it, no waiver required.

Scenario 5 — BVLOS pipeline survey, 8 miles, Class G airspace

Waiver from 107.31 (visual line of sight). This is the hardest category of waiver to get and the FAA has been cautious approving them. Expect a multi-month process and a detailed safety case (detect-and-avoid technology, visual observers, command-and-control link integrity). LAANC isn't part of the equation in Class G.

Scenario 6 — Stadium flyover for an event

Waiver for 107.39 (over people) AND a Temporary Flight Restriction check — stadiums have standing 3 nm TFRs during major sporting events. LAANC won't authorize you inside a TFR; you need a sporting event waiver through the FAA's separate process. This is a long lead-time job and pricing should reflect the planning hours.

How each one changes your quote

LAANC adds 10–20 minutes of planning per job — verify the grid, file the request, document the confirmation. Bake it into your standard rate; it's not a line item. A Part 107 waiver is real work: 4–10 hours building the safety case, 60–90 day lead time, possible back-and-forth with the FAA. Charge for it explicitly and require a signed contract before you start. Recurring waivered work justifies a retainer.

Documentation that protects you

Save the LAANC confirmation PDF, the approved altitude, the operating window, and the airspace class with every job file. For waivered ops, save the waiver number, expiration, and conditions. If anything goes wrong — incident, complaint, ATC follow-up — that paperwork is what protects your Part 107 certificate, your insurance, and your client relationship.

What is the difference between LAANC and a Part 107 waiver?

LAANC is an automated authorization to fly in controlled airspace at or below the published UAS Facility Map ceiling — most requests are approved in seconds. A Part 107 waiver is a formal FAA exemption from a specific Part 107 operating rule (night, over people, BVLOS, above 400 ft AGL, multiple aircraft from one pilot). Waivers require a written safety case through DroneZone and typically take 60–90 days.

Do I need a waiver if I already have LAANC?

Only if your flight breaks a Part 107 operating rule on top of needing airspace authorization. LAANC unlocks the airspace; a waiver unlocks an operating limit. A night job in Class D needs LAANC for the airspace and, before April 2021, also needed a 107.29 night waiver — now night ops are allowed under Part 107 without one if you have anti-collision lighting.

How long does a Part 107 waiver take to get?

Plan on 60–90 days for FAA review. Complex waivers (BVLOS, ops over open-air assemblies of people) often take longer and may come back with requests for more safety data. Waivers are job-specific or operation-specific and can be renewed, so once approved you don't have to re-file for every gig.

What is a LAANC Further Coordination request?

When your requested altitude exceeds the published UASFM grid ceiling, LAANC can't auto-approve. It files a Further Coordination request that goes to ATC for manual review. These take days to weeks and are not guaranteed. If your client needs a specific date, file early or quote a flexible window.

Which one do I need to fly over people?

A Part 107 waiver (or qualifying under the Operations Over People rule with a Category 1–4 drone). LAANC does not authorize operations over people — it only handles airspace. The two systems solve different problems and you may need both for the same job.

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