Remote Pilot Association

  Written in-light of  Drone Safety Awareness Week, November 16-22, 2020 In my Remote drone Pilot certification classes, teaching the basics of Class E airspace isn’t so bad; I simply refer to it as the primary airspace that’s the filler between the other airspace types, starting at either 700’ or 1,200’ Above Ground Level (AGL) and generally extending to the base of Class A at Flight Level 180, or 18,000’ Mean Sea Level (MSL). However, when it comes to Surface Based Class E, the magenta dashed lines around an airport, it reminds me of English class in primary school. The teacher would say something to the effect of, “The rule is X,” and I would get what she was saying. Then she would say, “Unless it’s this case, or this case, or that case,” and then I would be totally confused. Well, unfortunately this is the case with Surface Based Class E where basically the rule book gets thrown out. Never-the-less, I think we can give you an explanation that will help you learn this uniqu...

Don't get me wrong Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) is a great tool as it allows for much quicker access to air traffic controlled airspace. In the past the process for getting access required submitting a waiver, which could take up to 90 days to process. However, I don’t recommend this for every pilot.  Sadly, according to a Drone XL article only 20 to 30 percent of drone pilots are complying, or using, LAANC according to an Aloft company study, in ATC controlled airspace when they should be using the app. In other words, there are 70 to 80 percent of the drone pilots violating ATC controlled airspace. Source: interdrone, LAANC example What is LAANC and how does it work? As you know, airspace that is controlled by Air Traffic Control (ATC), Class B, C, D and sometimes surface based E airspace requires ATC approval. Approvals in the past were not efficient thus a new system called LAANC was developed to give drone pilots quicker and more extensive acc...