Guide · Part 107 pilots
UAS Facility Map: Find Nearby Controlled Airspace & LAANC Ceilings
The UAS Facility Map (UASFM) is the FAA's gridded ceiling map for controlled airspace. It tells you — in seconds — whether LAANC applies to your job site, what altitude you can get auto-approved for, and where Further Coordination kicks in.
Ready to put this into a quote? Rotor Rate does the math.
What the UAS Facility Map actually is
The UAS Facility Map (UASFM) is the FAA's grid of pre-approved drone ceilings inside controlled airspace. The country gets divided into 1 nautical mile x 1 nautical mile squares around every towered airport, and each square gets a maximum altitude — 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 300, or 400 ft AGL — at which LAANC can auto-approve a flight. It's the single dataset every LAANC provider checks before issuing an authorization.
Three free ways to check the map
(1) The official FAA UASFM viewer at faa.gov/uas/getting_started/uas_facility_map — desktop browser, no signup, the source of truth. (2) B4UFLY — the FAA-endorsed mobile app, colors each grid by ceiling and shows airspace class at a glance. (3) Any LAANC provider app (Aloft, AutoPylot, Airmap, Skyward, UASidekick) — the grid overlay appears automatically as you draw your operating area. All three pull from the same dataset, so pick whichever fits your workflow.
How to read a grid square
Each square shows a single number — the ceiling in feet AGL. 400 means you can request anything up to 400 ft and LAANC will auto-approve. 100 means you're capped at 100 ft. 0 means LAANC will not auto-approve any altitude; you need Further Coordination. The square's color in B4UFLY mirrors the ceiling: green (400), yellow (100–300), red (0). If your operating area overlaps multiple grids, your request must fit under the lowest ceiling that any part of the area touches.
Does LAANC apply to your location? The fast check
Open B4UFLY or your LAANC app at the job site address. If you see colored grid squares overlaying the area, you're inside controlled airspace and LAANC is required. If no grid appears, you're in Class G (uncontrolled) airspace and LAANC isn't needed — but you still need to follow standard Part 107 rules: 400 ft AGL, daylight or anti-collision lighting, visual line of sight.
When you see a 0 ft grid
A 0 ft ceiling means LAANC can't help you. These grids sit directly under airport approach and departure corridors where any drone activity needs explicit ATC clearance. You have two paths: file a Further Coordination request through your LAANC provider (days to weeks of ATC review, not guaranteed), or pick a different operating area outside the 0 ft grid. For paid jobs, quote a flexible date window or build in a contingency before accepting work in a 0 ft square.
Reading the grid for a real job
Example: a roof inspection on a commercial building 1.5 nm from a Class D airport. Open B4UFLY at the address. You see two grids overlapping the building: one shows 200 ft, one shows 100 ft. You need at least 80 ft for the inspection. File LAANC at 100 ft — the lower of the two ceilings — and you're auto-approved in seconds. If the grids had shown 50 and 0, you'd need Further Coordination and probably a separate date for the shoot.
What the grid ceiling does NOT tell you
The UASFM only handles airspace authorization. It doesn't tell you about Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) — check those separately in B4UFLY or at tfr.faa.gov. It doesn't tell you about Special Use Airspace (MOAs, restricted areas) outside controlled airspace. And it doesn't override Part 107 rules: even with a 400 ft grid ceiling, you still can't fly over people without a waiver, beyond visual line of sight, or in violation of any other Part 107 limit.
How the grid affects what you charge
A 400 ft grid is a non-event — 30 seconds of LAANC filing, no surcharge needed. A low ceiling (50–150 ft) means more planning time to figure out whether the deliverable is even possible at that altitude; bill for that. A 0 ft grid changes the whole job — Further Coordination has a multi-week lead time, the approval isn't guaranteed, and you should require a deposit and a flexible date window in the contract. Rotor Rate's calculator can add an airspace planning premium per job line if you want it baked in.
Update cycle and pre-flight habit
The FAA refreshes the UASFM roughly every 56 days alongside the standard airspace chart cycle. LAANC providers sync from the FAA shortly after each release. Always re-check the grid the day of your flight, especially in areas near recent construction or new approach procedures. A grid that was 200 ft last month can drop to 100 ft after an airspace redesign.
What is the UAS Facility Map?
The UAS Facility Map (UASFM) is the FAA's gridded map of controlled airspace around airports, published as 1 nautical mile x 1 nautical mile squares. Each grid shows the maximum altitude — 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 300, or 400 ft AGL — at which a drone flight can be auto-approved through LAANC. It's the ceiling lookup table that every LAANC provider checks before issuing an authorization.
How do I check the UAS Facility Map for my area?
Three free options: (1) the FAA's official UASFM viewer at faa.gov/uas/getting_started/uas_facility_map; (2) the B4UFLY app (iOS/Android) — colors each grid by ceiling; (3) any LAANC provider app (Aloft, AutoPylot, Airmap, Skyward) which overlays the grid on the map as you draw your operating area. The data is identical across all three — they all pull from the same FAA dataset.
Does LAANC apply to my location?
LAANC applies anywhere your flight area touches a UASFM grid square — meaning anywhere inside controlled airspace (Class B, C, D, or the surface ring of Class E around an airport). If your operating area is entirely in Class G (uncontrolled airspace), no UASFM grid will appear and LAANC isn't needed. The fastest check: open B4UFLY at the job site address — if you see colored grid squares, LAANC applies.
What does a 0 ft ceiling on the UASFM mean?
A 0 ft grid means LAANC will not auto-approve any altitude in that square. To fly there you must submit a Further Coordination request through your LAANC provider, which is routed to ATC for manual review. These take days to weeks and are not guaranteed. Most 0 ft grids sit directly under an airport's approach or departure corridor.
Can I fly higher than the UASFM grid ceiling?
Not via LAANC. The grid ceiling is the maximum altitude LAANC will auto-approve. To go higher, you need either a Further Coordination request (slow, ATC-approved) or a Part 107 altitude waiver — and the standard 400 ft AGL Part 107 limit still applies unless you're within 400 ft laterally of a structure.
How often does the UAS Facility Map update?
The FAA updates the UASFM dataset approximately every 56 days, aligned with the FAA's standard airspace chart cycle. LAANC providers refresh their copies from the FAA shortly after each release. Always check the grid the day of your flight — ceilings near airports occasionally change after construction, airspace redesigns, or new approach procedures.
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