The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will open its next round of approving UTM suppliers for Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) services on 7 January 2019.
The FAA plans to host two USS application periods a year, each consisting of four steps. The entire process takes approximately five months to complete. Applicants should have a mature product at the time of application or have the capability to develop it before Formal Onboarding.
Before applying respondents must read and understand the following documents:
- How to Apply(PDF)
- LAANC Concept of Operations(PDF)
- USS Operating Rules(PDF)
- Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)(PDF)
- USS Onboarding Demonstration and Test Plan(PDF)
Upon successful completion of all onboarding activities, the FAA will sign the MOA and the USS will receive notification that it may begin providing LAANC services.
The winter onboarding application period opens on January 7, 2019. There will also be a summer onboarding starting on July 8, 2019. The onboarding process is a five month process comprising the following steps:
- January 7, 2019 – February 6, 2019 Application Period – USS onboarding application submission must include: completed USS Application package and Signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
- February 7, 2019 – March 8, 2019 FAA Submission Review – FAA has 30 days to respond whether the applicant meets requirements to continue in the process. During review, the FAA may ask applicants for additional information based on submitted materials
- March 9, 2019 – April 8, 2019 Technical Interviews -FAA invites applicants that pass the review to demo & discuss their product. If product meets the USS operating rules proceed to the formal onboarding phase
- May 23, 2019 – July 22, 2019 Formal Onboarding – Applicants proceed to system integration with the LAANC Automation Platform in a staging environment. Applicants must demonstrate successful execution of validation scenarios to show compliance with the LAANC USS Operating rules. Applicants have two attempts to pass the compliance demonstrations/tests. MOA countersigned by FAA upon successful completion of all onboarding activities
Application requirements are available in the USS onboarding document (PDF).
