B4UFLY Service Shows Recreational Drone Flyers Where They Can And Cannot Fly

The FAA is now partnering with several companies to offer drone pilots more places to receive official airspace awareness information. 

The FAA’s B4UFLY service shows recreational drone flyers where they can and cannot fly.  

The FAA has approved four companies to provide B4UFLY services through desktop and mobile applications. Approved companies will offer multiple ways to access B4UFLY and bring recreational flyers the latest airspace awareness information directly from the agency.  

The rule for operating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones under 55 pounds in the National Airspace System (NAS) is 14 CFR Part 107, referred to as the Small UAS Rule. 

However, if you want to fly a drone for purely recreational purposes, there is a limited statutory exception ("carve out") that provides a basic set of requirements.

The companies noted in the attached table also are also FAA-approved UAS Service Suppliers of the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability.  

Key features of B4UFLY include:

• Information about controlled airspace, special use airspace, critical infrastructure, airports, national parks and military training routes
• Information about Temporary Flight Restrictions for special events.
• A clear status indicator that informs the operator whether it is safe to fly or not. 
  • For example, an indicator shows that flying in the Special Flight Rules Area around Washington, D.C. is prohibited.
• Informative, interactive maps with filtering options.
• The ability to check whether it is safe to fly in different locations by searching for a location or moving the location pin.
• Links to other FAA drone resources.

FMI: www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/laanc#approved