Understanding how to successfully apply for and use a further coordination LAANC authorization request on the Aloft Air Control mobile and web dashboard.
In this blog, we will walk through how to identify areas on the map you need to apply for a further coordination request, how to apply on mobile and desktop of Aloft Air Control for a further coordination request and some tips and information for safely using a further coordination LAANC authorization in the NAS. First, let’s define some of the terms we will use in this blog and how they pertain to drone operations.
What are Further Coordination (FC) Requests?
Further coordination (FC) requests are a type of LAANC authorization which requires manual review from Air Traffic Management (ATM) at the designated airport you are applying to fly in the controlled airspace at.
The FAA states, “Further coordination is the term used when an authorization processed via LAANC cannot be automatically approved. For example, if a Part 107 authorization request is sent by an operator to a USS, and the planned operation is above a UASFM altitude, the request cannot be automatically approved. Further coordination is available only to Part 107 operators. A safety justification may be optionally submitted by the Part 107 operator for the ATM’s consideration.”
What are UAS Facility Maps (UASFM)?
The FAA defines UAS Facility Maps (or UASFM) as “UASFMs have been developed by FAA facilities to establish the altitude at and below which sUAS may be granted automatic authorization [by USS].”
When viewing the map on the Aloft Air Control platform on mobile or desktop, you will see colored circles on the map. The color of the circles indicates the type of airspace you are in. Colored circles in light blue, dark blue, green, and purple all indicate controlled airspace and will have grids overlaid with numbers in each grid block. Learn more about controlled airspace types in this blog. In the screenshot from Air Control, you can see our pin is dropped in a 0ft auto authorization ceiling grid in the Class B controlled airspace surrounding Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, NV. This means that if you need to operate a drone in the airspace located in this grid block, you will need to apply for a further coordination LAANC authorization request.
So now that we have reviewed the basics of what a FC request is and how to identify when you need to apply for an FC request, let’s dive into how to apply for a FC LAANC authorization request on the Air Control platform.
Understanding how to successfully apply for and use a further coordination LAANC authorization request on the Aloft Air Control mobile and web dashboard.
In this blog, we will walk through how to identify areas on the map you need to apply for a further coordination request, how to apply on mobile and desktop of Aloft Air Control for a further coordination request and some tips and information for safely using a further coordination LAANC authorization in the NAS. First, let’s define some of the terms we will use in this blog and how they pertain to drone operations.
What are Further Coordination (FC) Requests?
Further coordination (FC) requests are a type of LAANC authorization which requires manual review from Air Traffic Management (ATM) at the designated airport you are applying to fly in the controlled airspace at.
The FAA states, “Further coordination is the term used when an authorization processed via LAANC cannot be automatically approved. For example, if a Part 107 authorization request is sent by an operator to a USS, and the planned operation is above a UASFM altitude, the request cannot be automatically approved. Further coordination is available only to Part 107 operators. A safety justification may be optionally submitted by the Part 107 operator for the ATM’s consideration.”
What are UAS Facility Maps (UASFM)?
The FAA defines UAS Facility Maps (or UASFM) as “UASFMs have been developed by FAA facilities to establish the altitude at and below which sUAS may be granted automatic authorization [by USS].”
When viewing the map on the Aloft Air Control platform on mobile or desktop, you will see colored circles on the map. The color of the circles indicates the type of airspace you are in. Colored circles in light blue, dark blue, green, and purple all indicate controlled airspace and will have grids overlaid with numbers in each grid block. Learn more about controlled airspace types in this blog. In the screenshot above from Air Control, you can see our pin is dropped in a 0ft auto authorization ceiling grid in the Class B controlled airspace surrounding Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, NV. This means that if you need to operate a drone in the airspace located in this grid block, you will need to apply for a further coordination LAANC authorization request.
So now that we have reviewed the basics of what a FC request is and how to identify when you need to apply for an FC request, let’s dive into how to apply for a FC LAANC authorization request on the Air Control platform.
How to Apply for a Further Coordination LAANC Authorization Request on Air Control App
Watch the video tutorial below for a step by step guide on how to apply for a FC request on the Air Control app or read the steps below.
- Open the Air Control app on your iOS or Android mobile device.
- Use the search bar to type in the address or city and state of your intended operation and your pin will drop at your searched location on the map.
- If your location is in controlled airspace requiring an FC request, your pin will be located in a grid block which has a 0 in it surrounded by a colored circle. Swipe up to view the advisory bar at the bottom. Click the ‘more’ option on the UAS Facility Map card for the controlled airspace you are in, to read more about the further coordination max ceiling height availability.
- Once you have this information, click ‘LAANC’ on the right hand bar.
- Select ‘Commercial’ (reminder FC requests are only available for Part 107 certified operators).
- Slide the bar over to the max ceiling height you would like to apply for FC.
- Draw a polygon around your intended operational location and click ‘Next’.
- Select your date, time, and duration of your intended operation and click ‘Next’.
- The next screen gives an overview of your operation pertaining to your further coordination request, once you have read over that, click ‘Next’.
- On the final screen, you will see your personal information and more details about LAANC, read over all this information and then at the bottom you will see a block titled ‘Safety Justification’. This is a very important step in your FC request because it allows you to write up to 2,000 characters about how you will safely operate your drone in this area. (Check out the ‘How to Write a Safety Justification for Further Coordination LAANC Authorization Request’ section below for more information on writing your safety justification.)
- Once you have written your safety justification, click ‘Agree & Submit’.
Once submitted, you will see a blue box around your intended operation area and in the advisory bar your FC LAANC request information will appear. You will receive a text message and/or email notification with an overview of your FC request submission stating it is pending review. To note, when you FC request is approved or denied by ATM, you will receive an email and/or text message about this changed status. You can also log in to your account on the Air Control web dashboard to review the status of your FC request at anytime.
How to Apply for a Further Coordination LAANC Authorization Request on Air Control Web Dashboard
Watch the video tutorial below for a step by step guide on how to apply for a FC request on the Air Control web dashboard or read the steps below.
- Navigate to air.aloft.ai and sign in.
- Use the search bar in the top right hand corner to search the address or city and state of your intended operation and your pin will drop at your searched location on the map.
- If your location is in controlled airspace requiring an FC request, your pin will be located in a grid block which has a 0 in it surrounded by a colored circle. On the right hand side is the advisory bar, click the ‘more’ option on the UAS Facility Map card for the controlled airspace you are in to read more about the further coordination max ceiling height availability.
- Once you have this information, click the ‘LAANC’ button on the left of the advisory bar panel.
- Fill out all the information pertaining to your intended operation under the ‘Who will fly?’, ‘When and how long?’, ‘How high will you fly?’ and ‘Recreational or Commercial?’.
- Then upload a KML file or draw a polygon around your intended operational area under ‘Location’ and click ‘Next’.
- The next screen gives an overview of your operation pertaining to your further coordination request, once you have read over it, click ‘Next’.
- On the final screen, you will see your personal information and more details about LAANC, read over all this information and then at the bottom you will see a block titled ‘Safety Justification’. This is a very important step in your FC request because it allows you to write up to 2,000 characters about how you will safely operate your drone in this area. (Check out the ‘How to Write a Safety Justification for Further Coordination LAANC Authorization Request’ section below for more information on writing your safety justification.)
- Once you have written your safety justification, click ‘Agree & Submit’.
Once submitted, you will see a yellow box around your FC request area on the map and the status of this FC LAANC request is yellow ‘Further Coordination Request Pending’. You can review the status of your FC LAANC request at anytime in the ‘Authorizations’ section of the Manage dashboard of Air Control.
How to Write a Safety Justification for a Further Coordination LAANC Authorization Request
Writing your safety justification is the most important step of the entire process as this is your opportunity to explain directly to ATM how you will safely conduct your intended operations and why they should approve your request. In under 2,000 characters, explain any additional safety precautions you will take during your operations to ensure the safety of your equipment and everyone in the NAS. Below are a few examples of action you can take for your operation and include in your safety justification:
- Use a visual observers during your operation to scan the airspace for other aircrafts or potential obstacles.
- Scout your operational area prior to beginning your operations to determine a safe take-off and landing area free of any obstructions
These are just a few of the potential details you could include in your safety justification to explain how you will safely complete your intended operations to ATM. Remember to keep a copy of your safety justification for you to reference if your FC LAANC request is approved so you can follow these procedures during your operations.
Information on Processing Further Coordination LAANC Authorization Requests
Like all LAANC authorization requests, you can apply for a FC LAANC authorization requests up to 90 days in advance of your intended operations. The FAA states “Further coordination requests in LAANC are not automatic and require the approval of the ATM or designee. If a response is not provided, further coordination requests will expire 24 hours prior to the proposed operator’s start time. Facilities are not authorized to engage directly with operators to process further coordination requests.”
While FAA states that FC request responds from ATM can take up to 90 days they aim to give an approval or denial response to all FC requests within 30 days.
Because this process is manual it is recommended to apply for an FC request as far in advance as possible to ensure you receive a response before your intended operations need to begin. Each airport has their own ATM which process FC LAANC requests so response times vary depending on the facility and it’s workload. Read more about airport & air traffic participation rates in FC requests using LAANC in this blog.
We hope you found the information covered in this blog about further coordination LAANC authorization requests helpful. If you have any further questions about applying for FC LAANC request on the Air Control platform, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Aloft team at support@aloft.ai . And as always fly safe and fly often.
