Authorization Question (Newbie)

[vascodixon]

I am in a very similar situation except my maximum altitude is '0', so my question is if I was to get my part 107 license, would I be able to apply/get a wavier to fly? My second question is somewhere I read that you can fly up to 400 feet above the highest building in your area? Is that correct, or would I have to take off from a rooftop for that to apply? I'm new, so better to ask now than find out by being the "EXAMPLE"

 

[Mavic Mac]

Below is taken from Drone Pilot Ground School web page -------> LINK HERE
Under Part 107, a Remote Pilot-in-Command cannot fly an unmanned aircraft higher than 400 feet above ground level (AGL), unless it’s flown within a 400-foot radius of a structure and does not fly higher than 400 feet above the structure’s immediate uppermost limit.

Hope it helps

 

[Fred Garvin]

NOTE: In Controlled Airspace, the 400' Rule does not apply. The altitude limits in a specified grid square are absolute and you must not exceed them. If you need to, you have to file a manual authorization requesting permission to exceed the maximum altitude limit. For example, you want to fly a 40 story office tower but the grid square is 200'. You'll need special permission from the FAA to exceed the 200' limit in order to fly the tower.

 

[brett8883]

I live in an area close to a small airport, and an Air Force base (maybe 11 miles apart) I wanted to fly over my house to get a few photos, and somehow, I've been able to get approval to fly, but now that I started using airmap the app says my maximum altitude is '0', so my question is would my getting my part 107 license allow me to apply/get a wavier to fly in this area? My second question is somewhere I read that you can fly up to whatever the allowable altitude is plus the height of the highest building in that area? Is that correct if I was to launch from ground level, or would I have to take off from a rooftop for that to apply? I'm new, so better to ask now than find out by being the "EXAMPLE"

If you are in a 0 ft zone of controlled airspace then yes, getting a part 107 certificate would allow you to use LAANC to request altitudes higher than the 0ft indicated on the facilities map and would also allow you to potentially apply for a longer term authorization through DroneZone or possibly even a waiver. In short yes this would be the route to go.

For part 107 pilots flying in class G (uncontrolled) airspace, we can fly to a top height equal to the highest structure within 400 feet laterally PLUS 400 feet. However, this is only for part 107 pilots and does NOT apply for controlled airspace like your specific situation. If you are granted authorization to fly up to 200’ in controlled airspace then you can only fly up to 200’ from the ground full stop

 

[brett8883]

Actually you better give us the location you are talking about because I’d like to know why it’s a 0ft zone. Military bases are always tricky so before I say part 107 would solve the predicament let’s make sure this isn’t a military zone or something like that. 0ft zones on the facilities map are usually extremely close to the airport runway.

 

[BigAl07]

I am in a very similar situation except my maximum altitude is '0', so my question is if I was to get my part 107 license, would I be able to apply/get a wavier to fly? My second question is somewhere I read that you can fly up to 400 feet above the highest building in your area? Is that correct, or would I have to take off from a rooftop for that to apply? I'm new, so better to ask now than find out by being the "EXAMPLE"

You can request higher than the grid ALT but odds are it will get kicked back fairly quickly or immediately denied (depending on how they have it configured).

An Authorization in Controlled Airspace is an ABSOLUTE altitude and you can't use rules etc from other sections inside of Controlled Airspace. If you get approval for 100'AGL you can't ascend to anything higher unless it's to avoid an air-to-air incident.

Below is taken from Drone Pilot Ground School web page -------> LINK HERE
Under Part 107, a Remote Pilot-in-Command cannot fly an unmanned aircraft higher than 400 feet above ground level (AGL), unless it’s flown within a 400-foot radius of a structure and does not fly higher than 400 feet above the structure’s immediate uppermost limit.

Hope it helps

That's for class G airspace and not for controlled airspace. Airspace Authorizations are ABSOLUTE and do not allow for deviations unless an EMERGENCY.

 

[Mavic Mac]

You can request higher than the grid ALT but odds are it will get kicked back fairly quickly or immediately denied (depending on how they have it configured).

An Authorization in Controlled Airspace is an ABSOLUTE altitude and you can't use rules etc from other sections inside of Controlled Airspace. If you get approval for 100'AGL you can't ascend to anything higher unless it's to avoid an air-to-air incident.



That's for class G airspace and not for controlled airspace. Airspace Authorizations are ABSOLUTE and do not allow for deviations unless an EMERGENCY.

Thanks for clarification

 

[iaincaradoc]

If you are in a 0 ft zone of controlled airspace then yes, getting a part 107 certificate would allow you to use LAANC to request altitudes higher than the 0ft indicated on the facilities map and would also allow you to potentially apply for a longer term authorization through DroneZone or possibly even a waiver. In short yes this would be the route to go.

This is incorrect. The '0' in the grid square means you cannot get automated LAANC authorization to fly in that zone, Part 107 or not. You need to apply for authorization via DroneZone. I've been back-and-forth with the FAA locals on this. It *may* be different in other areas, but at least near PHX, I cannot do it.

When you're looking at the UAV Facilities mapping, the grid square number indicates the ceiling for automatic authorizations. So, if you were in a 200' grid square, you could get LAANC authorization to fly *under* 200'. You could apply for authorization via DroneZone to fly up to 400', but I don't believe you'd get authorization without a *lot* of documentation and justification.