What is Airspace classes (A through G)?
US airspace is divided into six classes (A, B, C, D, E, G) by the FAA. Each class has different rules for entry, equipment, and pilot certification. Drone-relevant classes are B, C, D, E, and G.
Class A: 18,000 ft MSL up to FL600. Instrument-only. Irrelevant for drones (drones can't fly there).
Class B: Surface to 10,000 ft MSL around the busiest airports. Inverted wedding cake. Drones need LAANC.
Class C: Surface to 4,000 ft AGL around medium commercial airports. Two-tier. Drones need LAANC.
Class D: Surface to 2,500 ft AGL around smaller towered airports. Single cylinder. Drones need LAANC.
Class E: Most controlled airspace below 18,000 ft. Surface areas around non-towered airports with instrument approaches require LAANC; the 700 ft floor doesn't matter for drones.
Class G: Uncontrolled airspace. No LAANC required. Most of rural and exurban America.
Classes B, C, D, and E surface areas are 'controlled' from the surface up. Class E above the surface (700 ft+ shelves) and Class G are not relevant for drone authorization — only TFRs and operational rules apply.
What this means for pilots
Memorize the LAANC-required classes (B, C, D, E surface area). Most pilots who get cited didn't realize they were in Class E surface area near a non-towered airport with instrument approaches. Always verify before flight.
FAQ
Why isn't Class A or F relevant for drones?
Class A is 18,000 ft MSL+; drones can't fly there. The FAA doesn't use Class F (it's an ICAO category some other countries use).
Do drones need to follow visual flight rules (VFR)?
Drones don't operate under VFR/IFR — they operate under Part 107 or 49 USC 44809. But the airspace classes that VFR pilots think about are the same ones drone pilots check for LAANC.
What's the most permissive airspace for drones?
Class G — uncontrolled. Most of rural America. No authorization required, just operational rules.
Related terms
FAA regulations change. Verify current rules at faa.gov/uas before relying on this article for flight planning. Altoa is not the FAA.