The Federal Aviation Administration will open the application period to become an FAA Approved Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Service Supplier for the FAA’s Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) on May 2, 2022.
LAANC is a collaboration between the FAA and the drone industry that enables the safe integration of drones into the nation’s airspace. LAANC Service Suppliers help drone pilots obtain FAA airspace authorizations to operate in controlled airspace below 400 feet.
Since its launch in 2017, the system now covers 542 air traffic facilities serving approximately 735 airports. In February, the FAA issued its millionth airspace authorization through LAANC.
LAANC does not grant Service Suppliers the authority to regulate the airspace or grant access without FAA approval.
The schedule is as follows:
- Application Period: May 2 – June 3, 2022
- FAA Submission Review: June 6 – July 8, 2022
- Technical Interviews: July 11 – August 12, 2022
- Formal Onboarding: August 18 – October 14, 2022
The FAA is announcing the application date more than two months in advance to help applicants prepare, as they must have a mature product at the time of application. Information on requirements and the onboarding process can be found on FAA.gov.
