Drone pilots with Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificates can now get near real-time authorizations to fly at night through FAA-approved providers of Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) services.
LAANC is an automated system for drone pilots requesting to fly below 400 feet in controlled airspace often found around airports. Drone pilots need FAA approval prior to flying in controlled airspace, FAA officials note.
In addition to the near real-time night authorizations, drone pilots will have more areas they can fly in since the FAA has divided the airspace into smaller segments.
Since April 2021, Part 107 pilots were able to operate in controlled airspace at night with a valid LAANC daytime authorization and an authorization letter from the FAA that expired on Sept. 30, 2021, while LAANC providers updated their software.
Now that the update is complete, there is a “permanent solution for Part 107 drone pilots to operate in controlled airspace at night,” FAA officials said.