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⚖ Airspace · § 107.41, Operation in Certain AirspaceAIR-032 · 81 of 261

A remote pilot's planning app shows a survey area as Class G, but the sectional chart appears to show a Class D boundary overlapping the northernmost waypoints. What is the correct action?

AProceed: if the app shows Class G, no authorization is required regardless of chart indications.
BTrust the sectional chart over the app; if any waypoints fall within Class D, obtain LAANC or DroneZone authorization for that portion before flying.✓
CCall the Class D tower by phone to verbally notify them: no formal Part 107 authorization is required.

Why →The FAA sectional chart is the authoritative source for airspace boundaries. Planning apps aggregate FAA data but may have resolution limits or update lag that fail to capture boundary edge cases. If the chart shows any planned flight within Class D, authorization via LAANC or FAA DroneZone is required under 14 CFR § 107.41 before the operation.

The trap →Flight planning apps are tools built on FAA data. They are not the FAA itself and are not legally authoritative for airspace boundaries. Verbal phone notification to a Class D tower does not constitute a Part 107 airspace authorization.

Field note →When planning near any airspace boundary, build a 0.1–0.25 NM buffer between your route and the boundary to account for GPS position error, drone drift, and app resolution limits. If the buffer puts you in controlled airspace, get authorization.

SOURCE → 14 CFR § 107.41, Operation in Certain AirspaceCHECKED JUL 16ACS II.A.K1MED
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