Bonus: registering a drone and using the UAS Facility Map
The short version
- Two practical walkthroughs - registering an aircraft on FAADroneZone, and reading the UAS Facility Map to decide whether you need airspace authorization.
- Part 107 and recreational registrations are SEPARATE dashboards in the same account. Part 107 registration is PER AIRCRAFT at $5.
- UAS Facility Map grids show the MAXIMUM altitude for which authorization is available - not permission to fly. You still have to request it.
- A grid value of ZERO means no automatic approval is available there - typically near a final approach path.
- If an area has NO grid at all, it needs no authorization - which is how the map visually confirms an E4/E5 extension is exempt.
The concepts
Registering an aircraft on FAADroneZone 0:00:00
FAADroneZone is where aircraft are registered and where waivers and airspace authorizations are requested.
Registration applies to aircraft over 0.55 lb (250 g) and under 55 lb. At 55 lb and above you register as a conventional aircraft and receive an N number.
One account holds SEPARATE dashboards - a recreational dashboard and a Part 107 dashboard. You add the Part 107 account from the top right.
Under Part 107 you register EACH AIRCRAFT at $5, entering manufacturer, serial number (often under the battery) and a nickname.
The registration marking must be applied to the aircraft EXTERIOR.
The Part 107 dashboard also carries WAIVERS AND AUTHORIZATIONS and ACCIDENT REPORTING.
Accident reporting - within 10 days for serious injury, loss of consciousness, or over $500 damage to others' property. The instructor's advice is to self-report rather than hope the FAA does not find out.
They will figure it out. And if you haven't submitted the report, then you'll get in trouble. Don't be that person.0:00:00
Reading the UAS Facility Map 0:05:06
A gridded FAA map showing, per grid square, the maximum altitude for which airspace authorization may be granted.
The number is a CEILING FOR AUTHORIZATION, not a permission. You must still request approval.
A ZERO grid means no routine approval is available - typically under a final approach path.
Clicking a grid gives the ceiling, effective date, last change, coordinates and the AIRSPACE CLASS.
Areas with NO grid require no authorization. The instructor uses this to confirm Prescott's Class E extension is exempt, and that Sedona (Class E based at 700 ft) needs nothing.
Search is poor - you cannot search by ICAO identifier, only by place name.
IMPORTANT LIMITATION - the map shows CONTROLLED AIRSPACE ONLY. It does not show TFRs, special use airspace, national parks or wilderness areas. Do not rely on it alone; still read the sectional.
This doesn't have TFRs. This doesn't have all the other airspaces that we talked about in the presentation. So don't rely simply on this.0:05:06
Every concept, three clicks deep
The same concepts as a quick reference: the closed row is the glance, open is the study card, and every timestamp jumps into the recording.
01Registering an aircraft on FAADroneZoneFAADroneZone is where aircraft are registered and where waivers and airspace authorizations are requested.0:00:00›
FAADroneZone is where aircraft are registered and where waivers and airspace authorizations are requested.
Registration applies to aircraft over 0.55 lb (250 g) and under 55 lb. At 55 lb and above you register as a conventional aircraft and receive an N number.
One account holds SEPARATE dashboards - a recreational dashboard and a Part 107 dashboard. You add the Part 107 account from the top right.
Under Part 107 you register EACH AIRCRAFT at $5, entering manufacturer, serial number (often under the battery) and a nickname.
The registration marking must be applied to the aircraft EXTERIOR.
The Part 107 dashboard also carries WAIVERS AND AUTHORIZATIONS and ACCIDENT REPORTING.
Accident reporting - within 10 days for serious injury, loss of consciousness, or over $500 damage to others' property. The instructor's advice is to self-report rather than hope the FAA does not find out.
02Reading the UAS Facility MapA gridded FAA map showing, per grid square, the maximum altitude for which airspace authorization may be gr…0:05:06›
A gridded FAA map showing, per grid square, the maximum altitude for which airspace authorization may be granted.
The number is a CEILING FOR AUTHORIZATION, not a permission. You must still request approval.
A ZERO grid means no routine approval is available - typically under a final approach path.
Clicking a grid gives the ceiling, effective date, last change, coordinates and the AIRSPACE CLASS.
Areas with NO grid require no authorization. The instructor uses this to confirm Prescott's Class E extension is exempt, and that Sedona (Class E based at 700 ft) needs nothing.
Search is poor - you cannot search by ICAO identifier, only by place name.
IMPORTANT LIMITATION - the map shows CONTROLLED AIRSPACE ONLY. It does not show TFRs, special use airspace, national parks or wilderness areas. Do not rely on it alone; still read the sectional.
Tools referenced
| Tool | Coverage | Moment | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAADroneZone (faadronezone.faa.gov) | demonstrated | 0:00:00 | Aircraft registration, Part 107 dashboard, waivers, authorizations, accident reports. |
| FAA UAS Facility Maps and grids | demonstrated | 0:00:00 | Determining the authorization ceiling for a location. |
| SkyVector | demonstrated | 0:00:00 | Cross-checking the airspace class shown on the facility map against the sectional. |
Action items
Resources mentioned
- docAudio review - Regulation covers registration (MP3) 2:35:41
Extraction notes
This page was built from an auto-generated transcript, which garbles product and people's names. Those were corrected silently in everything above and logged here for transparency. The warnings flag claims that were true on the recording day but change fast.
Transcript corrections applied
| The transcript says | The trainer actually means |
|---|---|
| FA / EFA | FAA |
| lands / LANS | LAANC |
| Section 336 | the former recreational exemption; superseded by 49 USC 44809 |
| identify it | identifier (the four-letter ICAO code) |
| It's an E5, which is an extension to a class Delta or class Charlie | the instructor audibly corrects himself and gets it wrong - an extension off Class D is E4 and off Class C is E3. E5 is the 700 ft variety. See the Airspace section for the correct scheme. |
| 336 dashboard | the recreational flyer dashboard |
True on recording day — verify before relying
- "Hopefully by August of 2018, everybody will have LAANC across the country." - STATUS: CLEARLY DATED - this lesson is among the oldest in the course. LAANC coverage has since expanded substantially.
- AirMap recommended as a LAANC provider here. - STATUS: CONTRADICTS the Airspace section, where the instructor explicitly advises AGAINST AirMap for missing stadium TFRs. The Airspace lesson is newer. Verify current FAA-approved LAANC providers.
- "Section 336 dashboard" for recreational flyers. - STATUS: OUTDATED TERMINOLOGY. Section 336 was repealed and replaced by 49 USC 44809.
- Registration is $5 per aircraft under Part 107. - STATUS: CURRENT as taught; verify the fee on FAADroneZone.
- The instructor's E4 / E5 mix-up when describing the Prescott extension. - STATUS: ERROR IN THE LECTURE. Extensions off Class D are E4, off Class C are E3. Trust the Airspace section, which teaches this correctly and at length.