Before You Fly
Airspace conditions change daily — sometimes hourly. The FAA requires every pilot to check current conditions before each flight, not just once when a certificate is issued. Here's the three-step check NC Drones runs before every mission, with direct links to the FAA's live sources.
Why check every time
Controlled airspace boundaries, temporary flight restrictions (TFRs), and NOTAMs (Notices to Air Missions) can appear or change with little notice — a VIP movement, a wildfire, a stadium event, or a new restriction near an airport. A location that was clear to fly yesterday may not be clear today. The FAA points pilots to three live resources to confirm airspace status immediately before flight.
The 3-step pre-flight workflow
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1. Check airspace with B4UFLY
B4UFLY is the FAA's official airspace awareness resource for drone pilots. It shows controlled airspace, airports, national parks, military training routes, and other restrictions for a specific location, so you know what you're flying into before you launch.
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2. Get authorization through a LAANC provider
If B4UFLY shows the flight area falls inside controlled airspace, you need authorization before flying there. LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) gives Part 107 pilots near-real-time approval through FAA-approved UAS Service Suppliers — no phone call or waiting days for a paper authorization.
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3. Check for TFRs and NOTAMs
Even in uncontrolled airspace, a Temporary Flight Restriction or an active NOTAM can make a flight illegal that day. Both can be issued on short notice, so this check should happen as close to launch time as possible.
Quick reference
Airspace Awareness
Confirms what class of airspace you're in and any location-based restrictions.
B4UFLY →Controlled Airspace Authorization
Required before flying in controlled airspace near towered airports.
LAANC →Temporary Restrictions
Short-notice no-fly zones from events, emergencies, VIP travel, and more.
TFR Search →