A new authorisation has made it easier for United States-based pilots to operate their drones at night and in a wider range of locations.

US drone pilots with Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificates may now obtain near-real-time authorisations to fly at night through FAA-approved providers of Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) services. LAANC is an automated system for drone pilots requesting to fly below 400ft in the controlled airspace often found around airports. Drone pilots need FAA approval prior to flying in controlled airspace.

In addition to the near-real-time night authorisations drone pilots will have more areas they can fly in since the FAA has divided the airspace into smaller segments.

Since April 2021, while LAANC providers updated their software, Part 107 pilots have been able to operate in controlled airspace at night with a valid LAANC daytime authorisation and an authorisation letter from the FAA which expires on September 30. The new authorisation provides a permanent solution for Part 107 drone pilots to operate in controlled airspace at night.