The FAA B4UFly app is about to see some massive modifications within the new yr. Most notably, it’s not going to be managed by Aloft, the privately-owned startup that has been powering it since 2019.
The B4UFly app is the centerpiece of the Federal Aviation Administration’s B4UFly program. The B4UFly program was designed to assist newbie or leisure pilots perceive the place they’ll and can’t fly.
You may obtain the B4UFLY Drone Airspace Security app on the Apple App Retailer or Google Play Retailer.
However whereas Aloft will cease powering the B4UFly app, the B4UFly program is hardly going away. In truth, it’s getting larger. Reasonably than counting on only a single partnership (because it had been doing with Aloft), it appears to be like like the following model of B4UFly will incorporate partnerships with a number of personal corporations.
“The B4UFLY program will not be going away, it’s truly increasing,” FAA spokesperson Rick Breitenfeldt advised The Drone Lady. “The FAA is partnering with a number of corporations who will combine airspace consciousness with airspace authorizations.”
Breitenfeldt stated to anticipate extra data on the FAA’s web site quickly.
The historical past of Aloft’s relationship with the FAA
Aloft had been powering the FAA’s B4UFly app since 2019. Previous to that, the FAA B4UFly app was created and operated fully by the FAA. With the Aloft presence got here a mega relaunch that entailed a extra user-friendly view of what real-time airspace restrictions are in impact within the U.S. It additionally introduced in easier-to-understand airspace steering that included ‘Good to Go,’ ‘Warning’ and ‘Do Not Fly’ labels.
That was an especially welcome change for the app, which on the time had a painfully low ranking of simply 1.5/5 on the Apple app retailer and an much more abysmal ranking of 1.5/5 on the Android App retailer on Google Play.
Ever since Aloft swooped in, evaluations improved. Immediately, the app has a 3.9 star ranking with Apple and a 4.0 ranking on Google Play.
What’s subsequent for Aloft? A brand new app referred to as Air Conscious
Whereas Aloft’s work in powering the FAA’s B4UFly app isn’t any extra, Aloft is hardly ending its position within the discipline of airspace consciousness for drone pilots.
In truth, it’s simply introduced a brand new partnership that might probably make it even larger. On Dec. 17, Aloft introduced the launch of Air Conscious, an all-new app made in partnership with an organization referred to as Pilot Institute (extra on them later). The Air Conscious app presents real-time insights earlier than, throughout, and after drone operations.
“It’s been an honor working with the FAA over the past 5 years to energy B4UFLY with Aloft’s UTM and airspace system,” Aloft founder and CEO Jon Hegranes advised The Drone Lady. “We realized loads over that point and we’re trying ahead to bringing that information and expertise to a brand new app with a brand new associate in Pilot Institute.”
Aloft is looking their new app a alternative to the B4UFly app. Whereas the previous app largely targeted on situations earlier than takeoff, Hegranes stated the brand new and improved app is all about “redefining situational consciousness to embody all the flight lifecycle.”
Based on Hegranes, there’s a lot that Aloft wasn’t in a position to do with B4UFly, like enabling an indication so pilots can retailer their certificates, which he stated was a extremely requested function.
“Within the new Air Conscious app, we’re listening carefully and actively soliciting suggestions for the place we must always take the platform,” he stated to The Drone Lady.
In truth, Hegranes stated they’ve already obtained tons of of submissions for requested app options. He stated you may submit your individual app function requests right here.
With the brand new Air Conscious app, you may nonetheless anticipate some comparable options as you’ll discover within the B4UFly app, together with Notify & Fly. It additionally contains Air Management – for superior fleet, workforce, and airspace administration, and Geo – for public security and different verified businesses to publish security and compliance data immediately onto the Aloft airspace maps.
“You’ll nonetheless have official Aloft airspace data in Air Conscious, however you’ll be seeing a variety of new performance that simply wasn’t doable earlier than,” Hegranes stated.
Aloft companions with Pilot Institute
The partnership with Pilot Institute is one other key app function. Pilot Institute presents programs on each drones and airplanes on matters together with passing the Half 107 check or the Non-public Pilot examination.
Pilot Institute, which claims to have skilled over 250,000 drone and airplane pilots throughout the USA, is among the many handful of FAA-approved TRUST suppliers. Brief for the Leisure Unmanned Plane Programs Security Check, TRUST is a requirement for passion drone pilots within the U.S. With it, passion pilots have to undergo the course and easily on-line quiz by way of any of the TRUST-approved organizations, which embrace Pilot Institute, UAV Coach, The Boy Scouts of America and others.
Amongst Pilot Institutes choices past the Aloft partnership embrace programs on:
Aloft stated it should not subject updates to the B4UFLY software. As a substitute, Aloft will give attention to Air Conscious.
You may obtain Air Conscious from the iOS App Retailer or Google Play Retailer or apply it to the online at https://airaware.aloft.ai.
“With Air Conscious, and our associate in Pilot Institute, we predict we are able to have an even bigger influence on this phase of drone pilots than we might earlier than by with the ability to provide a extra full and built-in software and suite of capabilities and content material,” Hegranes stated.
What concerning the present FAA B4UFly app?
Despite the fact that Aloft has moved on, the present B4UFly app remains to be out there for obtain and in good, working situation.
“Within the meantime, drone operators ought to proceed to make use of the present B4UFLY app,” Breitenfeldt stated.
With out Aloft, it merely means there received’t be any extra new updates made by Aloft to the app. In fact, Aloft is definitely not severing ties with the FAA.
“Going ahead, we proceed to sit up for working carefully with the FAA to advertise the secure integration of drones into the Nationwide Airspace System (NAS) and supply wonderful instruments and applied sciences for all drone pilots,” Hegranes stated. “Drones (leisure and industrial) already signify the biggest variety of pilots and plane within the NAS, and Aloft will proceed to advocate for the rights and skills for these pilots to entry and share the airspace.”
What about LAANC?
Ought to it’s essential to fly below 400 ft in managed airspace round airports, there’s additionally nonetheless the continued LAANC program. LAANC, which stands for “Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Functionality” is a system that allows drone pilots to request computerized approval to fly in locations the place they sometimes can’t with out such approval.
A few dozen corporations associate with the FAA to supply that computerized approval. The apps work by checking requests in opposition to airspace knowledge sources resembling UAS Facility Maps, Momentary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) and Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) to resolve whether or not it’s secure for pilots to fly in these areas.
You may see the complete listing of FAA-approved companions who present near-real time airspace authorizations and data right here.
Amongst these authorised companions contains, sure, Aloft. In truth, Aloft is the No. 1 FAA-approved LAANC service provider when it comes to variety of airspace authorizations issued. Aloft achieved a milestone with 1 million LAANC airspace authorizations in September 2023. It additionally introduced it had surpassed 30 million B4UFLY airspace security searches round that very same time.
LAANC is presently not a function within the present B4UFly app, neither is it within the Air Conscious app. (It wasn’t doable within the FAA-partnered model due to the no person registration potential). However, Hegranes hinted that native LAANC performance (versus linking to the Aloft Air Management apps or web site) is a function being explored within the new app.
