Best Tips for Air Space Approvals
Fly Safe, Fly Legal: What You Need to Know Before Taking Off
Flying drones is about more than just getting the perfect shot—it’s about doing it safely, responsibly, and legally. One of the biggest challenges in drone operations, especially in urban or restricted areas, is securing airspace approvals.
Whether you're operating near airports or in densely populated cities like Boston, understanding how to navigate the approval process is essential to staying compliant and protecting your clients, crew, and business.
Here are our top tips to help you streamline the process and get approved—fast and efficiently:
1. Get Licensed
Before you even plan a flight, make sure you understand the FAA requirements for drone operations:
If you're flying recreationally, take the T.R.U.S.T. test to receive your hobbyist license.
If you're flying commercially, you’ll need to pass the Part 107 exam and obtain your official FAA Remote Pilot Certificate.
Start with the right foundation—licensing is your entry point to legal and professional operations.
2. Know Your Airspace
Before you even plan the shoot, use tools like AirControl or AutoPylot, or the FAA’s UAS Facility Maps to check the airspace classification where you’re flying.
The first step is understanding if you are in CONTROLLED or UNCONTROLLED airspace
Uncontrolled (Class G) airspace: No authorization needed. You can fly up to 400 feet AGL.
Controlled airspace (Classes B, C, D, E): Requires FAA approval—usually via LAANC or manual request.
Look for:
Colored zones or altitude numbers on the map = controlled airspace
Blank areas = generally uncontrolled
Also check for NOTAMs (Notices to Air Missions) and TFRs (Temporary Flight Restrictions) that may affect your mission.
2. Use LAANC Whenever Possible
The Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) is your best friend. It provides near real-time approval for flights under 400 feet in controlled airspace.
Available through apps like AirControl or AutoPylot
If you see an area on the maps that displays a number (e.g., 100ft), that’s the maximum height you can request immediate approval for through LAANC
If you want to fly HIGHER than the given number, then you will need to send in your authorization with at least 72 hours notice of preparation
Note: not all airports participate, so check availability first.
3. Tips for approvals
I recently had a call with someone from out of town who wanted to fly near the Prudential Center in Boston - above the allowed altitude. Despite multiple attempts, their application kept getting denied. Why? Because getting approval isn’t guaranteed. You must make the case for your flight’s safety.
When you apply for approval through LAANC, the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) has no necessity to give you the approval. It is your job as the applicant to give as much detail in telling them why this flight will be safe and the precautions you are taking.
Give yourself as much time as possible before the day of flight for the ATC to review your application. 72 hours is the minimum time that LAANC will allow for an approval but 5–30 business days is recommended depending on the complexity of the area.
Include detailed flight plans:
The purpose of the flight
The reasoning behind your altitude request
The exact location you are taking off from, landing, and the surrounding area
Flight pattern and risk mitigation (e.g., avoiding flight over people/vehicles)
Include your understanding of the area, the potential dangers, and how you plan to deal with them. Make sure to have your flight pattern and create it so that you do not sustain flight over people or moving vehicles.
Identify emergency landing zones
Visual line of sight and open visibility for the pilot/observer
It’s best if you choose a spot that will give you a clear visual of the air in all directions. If you can take off from a roof, a parking garage, open-space park, or even an intersection, having a clear visual of the drone AND the airspace around the drone is helpful.
The internal safety features
(e.g., RTH, obstacle avoidance, loss-of-signal protocols) - Loss of connection to the drone and manual or automatic operations
External safety features
(e.g., anti-collision lights visible up to 3 nautical miles)
I have a light source on my drone that flashes brightly (3 nautical miles) that I use on every flight. This gives extra visual protection for helicopters and other low-flying aircrafts. If manual pilots see a flying object, they often think it’s a bird that will get out of the way. The lights indicate that it is not a bird and will react accordingly.
What you wear
I usually wear a high-vis jacket when I fly so that people see me as a professional and know not to interrupt. In a high-traffic area, your attention needs to be on the drone at all times. If people interrupt you, that can have serious repercussions, so making sure you have a plan for when someone does stop you (police or pedestrian) is vital.
Weather precautions
Check the forecast for rain, wind, visibility, and humidity. Each drone tolerates weather conditions differently. This information can be found in your drone’s manual. Mention that in bad weather, you will not be flying as safety comes first.
Pilot credentials
Include experience level, history of safe flights, and contact info
Above all, be professional and courteous—you're asking for permission, not demanding it.
If LAANC is not available or your flight is more complex, submit through FAADroneZone.gov using the same best practices.
4. Have Your Documentation Ready
On the day of the flight, follow your approved safety plan. Always have these documents on hand:
FAA Part 107 certificate or TRUST certificate
Remote Pilot ID
Drone registration (on your drone)
Insurance (often required by property owners or clients)
In case of an interruption by local authorities, being able to present these quickly is crucial—especially while maintaining control of the drone in-flight.
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Airspace approvals don’t have to be intimidating. With knowledge, preparation, and clear communication, you can fly legally and confidently—even in the most complex environments.
At the end of the day, it’s about more than compliance. It’s about building trust with your clients, protecting your business, and helping advance the drone industry as a whole.
Fly smart. Stay safe. And capture the skies—legally.