Fly in Controlled Airspace
Versaterm brings FAA airspace authorization into the drone operations workflow through the integration of Versaterm Aloft and Versaterm DroneSense.
Versaterm Aloft is an FAA-approved UAS Service Supplier (USS) for the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC). LAANC is a collaboration between the FAA and private industry that streamlines the process for obtaining authorization to operate drones in controlled airspace.
The integration builds on Versaterm’s strategic acquisitions of DroneSense in July 2025 and Aloft in February 2026. Versaterm DroneSense is an FAA-approved LAANC Supplemental Data Service Provider (SDSP) through its connection with Versaterm Aloft. Together, these capabilities enable eligible drone pilots to access LAANC and submit requests for FAA airspace authorization directly through Versaterm DroneSense as part of their existing drone operations workflow.
By bringing airspace authorization into the same workflow used to manage drone missions, agencies can reduce manual coordination and keep time-sensitive operations moving. All LAANC authorization requests remain subject to FAA requirements and applicable airspace restrictions.
How Real-Time Airspace Authorization Keeps Public Safety Drone Missions Moving
For agencies operating in controlled airspace, that can add another step to an already fast-moving mission. The pilot may know where the aircraft needs to go and why it needs to get there, but the operation still has to comply with the rules governing that airspace. That’s where the FAA’s Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) comes in.
LAANC has changed how drone operators request authorization to fly in certain controlled airspace by moving eligible requests from a largely manual process into an automated digital workflow.
By streamlining airspace authorization, public safety agencies can minimize disruptions to operations while ensuring each flight meets the compliance requirements that govern it.
What Is LAANC?
Under 14 CFR Part 107, remote pilots generally must obtain FAA authorization before operating in controlled airspace. LAANC provides an automated way for eligible Part 107 remote pilots and recreational flyers to request airspace authorization in participating areas.
For public safety agencies, authorization requirements may come into play during everything from search and rescue to tactical response, major incidents and routine operations near airports. Rather than requiring every eligible request to be coordinated manually, LAANC allows approved service providers to exchange flight information with the FAA electronically.
When a request meets the requirements for automated authorization, a decision can be returned in near real time. The FAA remains the authority and LAANC provides a more efficient way to manage eligible authorization requests.
LAANC brings together the FAA and approved private-sector service providers to support the authorization process. The FAA establishes the airspace requirements and authorization framework. A UAS Service Supplier (USS), such as Versaterm, provides the system through which eligible pilots can submit LAANC authorization requests. Supplemental Data Service Providers (SDSPs), where applicable, provide approved data or services that support the LAANC process. Versaterm’s role as an FAA-approved USS enables eligible pilots to access LAANC through Versaterm DroneSense and submit airspace authorization requests within the drone operations workflow.
Why Does LAANC Matter for Public Safety?
Public safety drone operations are often driven by events that cannot be planned in advance. For example:
- A missing person may need to be located
- A major incident may require an aerial view of the scene
- Responders need information about a hazardous environment before entering it
In these situations, every minute between request and an aircraft in the air can matter. When a flight takes place in controlled airspace, the agency must obtain authorization before operating within that airspace. Traditionally, that can mean determining the applicable requirements, submitting a request and waiting for authorization before the flight can proceed.
LAANC helps streamline that process. Through participating FAA-approved systems, eligible drone operations can receive near-real-time airspace authorizations based on FAA-established altitude limits and other airspace requirements. Instead of treating authorization as a separate administrative task, LAANC makes it a faster, more integrated part of preparing for the flight.
For a public safety team responding to a time-sensitive incident, that can matter. A pilot can determine whether an operation requires authorization, submit the request and receive an authorization response without relying on a lengthy manual process. They have a direct path from identifying the need for an aerial response to getting the aircraft where it is needed while still operating within the FAA’s airspace requirements.
How Does LAANC Work?
Through Versaterm DroneSense, LAANC authorization is incorporated into the broader drone operations workflow, helping pilots manage the airspace alongside other operational activities:
The pilot submits a request
The pilot provides information about the planned operation, including the location, altitude, date, time and duration of the flight.The request is evaluated
The request is checked against applicable FAA airspace information, including UAS Facility Maps, which identify altitudes at which the FAA may authorize routine drone operations around controlled airports.An authorization decision is returned
If the request meets the requirements for automated authorization, the decision can be returned in near real time. Requests outside those parameters may require additional coordination or manual review.Air traffic control receives notification
The operation details are communicated to the appropriate air traffic control facility, providing visibility into planned drone activity and supporting airspace awareness.
The result is a digital process that can move much faster than traditional case-by-case coordination.
Where Does LAANC Fit Into the Drone Workflow?
A public safety agency may need to manage aircraft, pilots, missions, airspace information, flight activity, evidence and operational records. Each piece contributes to the agency’s ability to operate safely and effectively.
Connecting airspace authorization to the broader drone workflow can help agencies:
Reduce workflow interruptions
Pilots can manage eligible authorization requests closer to where they already manage their drone operations.Limit unnecessary handoffs
Keeping related information within a connected workflow can reduce the need to move between separate applications.Improve operational visibility
Authorization information can be more closely connected to the mission and flight activity.Support accountability
Maintaining a clearer record of authorization and flight activity can support agency oversight and documentation.Keep compliance in the workflow
Make airspace authorization part of the process leading to launch rather than an afterthought.
As agencies move from individual drone flights to more structured UAS programs, that connected approach becomes increasingly important.
How and When Can Drone Pilots Use LAANC?
Drone pilots planning to fly under 400 feet in controlled airspace must receive an airspace authorization from the FAA before they fly. LAANC automates the application and approval process for airspace authorizations and is available to pilots operating under the Small UAS Rule, Part 107, or under the exception for Recreational Flyers.
To qualify under Part 107, pilots must register their drone and hold a Remote Pilot Certificate. Recreational flyers must take The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) before they fly.
What is Versaterm’s Role in LAANC?
As a leading provider of public safety technology solutions, Versaterm has integrated Versaterm Aloft’s airspace authorization capabilities into Versaterm DroneSense, its comprehensive drone operations solution. The integration builds on Versaterm’s strategic acquisitions of DroneSense in July 2025 and Aloft in February 2026.
Versaterm DroneSense is now an FAA-approved LAANC Supplemental Data Service Provider (SDSP) through its connection with Versaterm Aloft, the leading FAA-approved UAS Service Supplier (USS), which processes the majority of LAANC authorizations. Versaterm DroneSense customers will gain access to these new LAANC capabilities.
How Do the FAA, USS and SDSP Work Together?
The FAA manages the airspace and serves as the authorization authority. An FAA-approved UAS Service Supplier (USS), like Versaterm Aloft, connects pilots and applications to LAANC, securely exchanging flight requests and authorization results with the FAA. A Supplemental Data Service Provider (SDSP), such as Versaterm DroneSense, supports the USS with additional services or information used in the LAANC process but does not connect to the FAA directly.
Interested in Offering LAANC Airspace Authorizations?
Drones have become an important part of the operational toolkit. They can provide an aerial view of a search area, help responders assess a developing incident, support a tactical operation or give decision-makers information before personnel arrive on scene. But every drone operation takes place within an airspace environment that pilots have to understand and, in some cases, obtain authorization to enter.
Interested in bringing LAANC airspace authorizations to your customers? Connect with Versaterm to explore a partnership.
