Airspace Authorization Delays

Tennessee Drone Services · Jan 6, 2018

Are you all experiencing wait times over 90 days for your authorizations? I have one currently that is about 115 days in and when I submitted a follow up email to the correct address on day 91 to check status, there has been no response.

This is for an area that has laanc designations, but aren't operational as of yet. I made sure that the flights would operate under the specifies altitudes of two joining quadrants. I thought this one would go quicker because of it.

Are others experiencing longer wait times?

2nd2non · Jan 6, 2018

Tennessee Drone Services said:
Are you all experiencing wait times over 90 days for your authorizations? I have one currently that is about 115 days in and when I submitted a follow up email to the correct address on day 91 to check status, there has been no response.

This is for an area that has laanc designations, but aren't operational as of yet. I made sure that the flights would operate under the specifies altitudes of two joining quadrants. I thought this one would go quicker because of it.

Are others experiencing longer wait times?

Same problem for my airspace authorizations in California and West Virginia. They’ve been over 100days.
The ones I applied for early in the process were processed in 60-90days. Now everything is backlogged...

AH-1G · Jan 6, 2018

2nd2non said:
Same problem for my airspace authorizations in California and West Virginia. They’ve been over 100days.
The ones I applied for early in the process were processed in 60-90days. Now everything is backlogged...

I was delayed for over 120 days, lost the contract. My bird has built in NFZ. I could have gone ahead and flown but wanted to stick to the rules.

Kentrol72 · Jan 10, 2018

Tennessee Drone Services said:
Are you all experiencing wait times over 90 days for your authorizations? I have one currently that is about 115 days in and when I submitted a follow up email to the correct address on day 91 to check status, there has been no response.

This is for an area that has laanc designations, but aren't operational as of yet. I made sure that the flights would operate under the specifies altitudes of two joining quadrants. I thought this one would go quicker because of it.

Are others experiencing longer wait times?

Where (email address) did you send the follow up request? I too have a waiver request over 120 days now

AH-1G · Jan 10, 2018

Kentrol72 said:
Where (email address) did you send the follow up request? I too have a waiver request over 120 days now

notice they have stream lined the process.
Request a Part 107 Waiver or Operation in Controlled Airspace

Kentrol72 · Jan 10, 2018

AH-1G said:
notice they have stream lined the process.
Request a Part 107 Waiver or Operation in Controlled Airspace

Thanks AH-G!..I went there before you replied and found the email link. I was just coming back to say I found it when I saw your reply

Tennessee Drone Services · Jan 11, 2018

I finally got a response to my authorization request, but it was merely a follow up to my email asking about the delay. Here's what they had to say:

Hello,
At the moment, no additional information is needed from you. If there is an issue with your application, the specialist assigned to your application will contact you directly to discuss it.

Kind Regards,

ATO Part 107 Authorization and Waiver Team
ATO Emerging Technologies Team
Federal Aviation Administration

So I'm still waiting.

We Fly Florida · Jan 13, 2018

Time frame depends on what part of the country you're in.

Down in the southeast there is currently around a 130 day wait.

They have been continually getting slower and slower, though.

Raymondo · Jan 13, 2018

Long delays in Australia too. Is there an authorisation charge from the FAA in the USA? I was after a simple clearance on the edge of a control zone to film a building, so no more than 100' elevation, yet I was to be charged over $A1000! The client was not prepared to add that cost to a shot that I would only be charging $400 for in the first place.

AH-1G · Jan 14, 2018

We Fly Florida said:
Time frame depends on what part of the country you're in.

Down in the southeast there is currently around a 130 day wait.

They have been continually getting slower and slower, though.

Same here in Orlando.

Z06Aggie · Jan 15, 2018

AH-1G said:
notice they have stream lined the process.
Request a Part 107 Waiver or Operation in Controlled Airspace

I haven't tried to request a waiver through Drone Zone yet - how are the wait times using the new process?

AH-1G · Jan 15, 2018

Z06Aggie said:
I haven't tried to request a waiver through Drone Zone yet - how are the wait times using the new process?

I also haven't tried .

We Fly Florida · Jan 15, 2018

I would imagine the same until LAANC is available.

Captainstubbie · Jan 18, 2018

7 authorizations pending in MN since 9/21/17
Hope to hear something soon...

commercialTRK · Jan 18, 2018

Tennessee Drone Services said:
Are you all experiencing wait times over 90 days for your authorizations? I have one currently that is about 115 days in and when I submitted a follow up email to the correct address on day 91 to check status, there has been no response.

This is for an area that has laanc designations, but aren't operational as of yet. I made sure that the flights would operate under the specifies altitudes of two joining quadrants. I thought this one would go quicker because of it.

Are others experiencing longer wait times?

Same problem for me in Northern VA (DC area). No response to original request, and no response to my follow-up email. It's been 191 days for me, but my request was for a large area. Disappointed but somewhat relieved it isn't just me.

Captainstubbie · Jan 18, 2018

commercialTRK said:
Same problem for me in Northern VA (DC area). No response to original request, and no response to my follow-up email. It's been 191 days for me, but my request was for a large area. Disappointed but somewhat relieved it isn't just me.

Captainstubbie · Jan 18, 2018

I got the auto email back within a werk acknowledging the application...nothing after that. Did you get the auto email?

commercialTRK · Jan 18, 2018

Captainstubbie said:
I got the auto email back within a werk acknowledging the application...nothing after that. Did you get the auto email?

Ah, yes; I forgot to mention that. I did get an auto-reply to my email inquiry. It came 12/02/2017 which was either the same day or perhaps the day after my email submission. .

Mike Nevins · Jan 21, 2018

Captainstubbie said:
7 authorizations pending in MN since 9/21/17
Hope to hear something soon...

Yup, same here in Colorado. I am at 90+ and counting for 5 cities. Will be 120 days on 1-25-18. LAANC map is in place, but not functional. If this continues, I will have to Re-Think this whole thing.

jjkowals · Jan 21, 2018

Just posted to the other thread re: FAA Airspace Authorization. But wanted to share some advice here. I had a few requests go into the 100+ days. So I got on the phone and started calling anyone who would listen. A class D airspace ATC manager connected me with the FAA UAS manager. A few phone calls with him and he was able to speed up a few of my requests. Seems like they got stuck in the old portal when their trying to start up the new portal.

Anyway, giving a call might help get you flying those jobs.
https://directory.faa.gov/appsPub/N...nt&5/AOA-001/AJO-0/AJV-0/AJV-1/AJV-115&ZV=I11