The FAA's Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) system is primarily used to:

Why →LAANC provides near-instantaneous airspace authorization (often seconds) for controlled airspace below FAA-published UAS Facility Map (UASFM) altitude ceilings. Available through apps like Aloft and ForeFlight, it replaces the manual authorization process that could take 90 days. It covers Class B, C, D, and surface Class E airspace.

The trap →Registration lives in FAA DroneZone, and so do deviation reports. LAANC does one thing: real-time airspace access authorization.

Field note →LAANC altitude ceilings are pre-negotiated with each ATC facility and shown on UASFM grids. Near many airports the ceiling is 0 feet, meaning even 1 foot of altitude requires a manual authorization. Always check the specific grid square, not just the airspace class.