The FAA B4UFly app is about to see some massive adjustments within the new 12 months. Most notably, it’s now 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 possibly can 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. Actually, it’s getting greater. Relatively than counting on only a single partnership (because it had been doing with Aloft), it appears like the following model of B4UFly will incorporate partnerships with a number of non-public corporations.
“The B4UFLY program just isn’t going away, it’s truly increasing,” FAA spokesperson Rick Breitenfeldt informed The Drone Woman. “The FAA is partnering with a number of corporations who will combine airspace consciousness with airspace authorizations.”
Breitenfeldt stated to anticipate extra info 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 totally 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 score of simply 1.5/5 on the Apple app retailer and an much more abysmal score of 1.5/5 on the Android App retailer on Google Play.
Ever since Aloft swooped in, critiques improved. Immediately, the app has a 3.9 star score with Apple and a 4.0 score 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 subject of airspace consciousness for drone pilots.
Actually, it’s simply introduced a brand new partnership that might probably make it even greater. 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 affords 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 informed The Drone Woman. “We realized loads over that point and we’re trying ahead to bringing that data and expertise to a brand new app with a brand new accomplice in Pilot Institute.”
Aloft is looking their new app a alternative to the B4UFly app. Whereas the outdated app principally targeted on circumstances earlier than takeoff, Hegranes stated the brand new and improved app is all about “redefining situational consciousness to embody the whole flight lifecycle.”
In keeping with Hegranes, there’s a lot that Aloft wasn’t capable of do with B4UFly, like enabling an indication so pilots can retailer their certificates, which he stated was a extremely requested characteristic.
“Within the new Air Conscious app, we’re listening intently and actively soliciting suggestions for the place we should always take the platform,” he stated to The Drone Woman.
Actually, Hegranes stated they’ve already obtained lots of of submissions for requested app options. He stated you may submit your individual app characteristic requests right here.
With the brand new Air Conscious app, you may nonetheless anticipate some related options as you’ll discover within the B4UFly app, together with Notify & Fly. It additionally contains Air Management – for superior fleet, staff, and airspace administration, and Geo – for public security and different verified companies to publish security and compliance info straight onto the Aloft airspace maps.
“You’ll nonetheless have official Aloft airspace info in Air Conscious, however you’ll be seeing a whole lot of new performance that simply wasn’t attainable earlier than,” Hegranes stated.
Aloft companions with Pilot Institute
The partnership with Pilot Institute is one other key app characteristic. Pilot Institute affords programs on each drones and airplanes on matters together with passing the Half 107 take a look at or the Personal Pilot examination.
Pilot Institute, which claims to have educated over 250,000 drone and airplane pilots throughout the USA, is among the many handful of FAA-approved TRUST suppliers. Quick for the Leisure Unmanned Plane Methods Security Take a look at, 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 via any of the TRUST-approved organizations, which embody Pilot Institute, UAV Coach, The Boy Scouts of America and others.
Amongst Pilot Institutes choices past the Aloft partnership embody programs on:
Aloft stated it’ll now not situation updates to the B4UFLY software. As a substitute, Aloft will concentrate on Air Conscious.
You possibly can 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 accomplice in Pilot Institute, we expect we are able to have an even bigger affect on this phase of drone pilots than we might earlier than by having the ability to provide a extra full and built-in software and suite of capabilities and content material,” Hegranes stated.
What in regards to the present FAA B4UFly app?
Though Aloft has moved on, the present B4UFly app remains to be accessible 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 gained’t be any extra new updates made by Aloft to the app. After all, Aloft is definitely not severing ties with the FAA.
“Going ahead, we proceed to sit up for working intently with the FAA to advertise the protected 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 business) already signify the biggest variety of pilots and plane within the NAS, and Aloft will proceed to advocate for the rights and talents for these pilots to entry and share the airspace.”
What about LAANC?
Ought to you might want to fly underneath 400 toes in managed airspace round airports, there’s additionally nonetheless the continuing LAANC program. LAANC, which stands for “Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Functionality” is a system that allows drone pilots to request automated approval to fly in locations the place they sometimes can not with out such approval.
A couple of dozen corporations accomplice with the FAA to supply that automated approval. The apps work by checking requests towards airspace information sources similar to UAS Facility Maps, Non permanent Flight Restrictions (TFRs) and Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) to determine whether or not it’s protected for pilots to fly in these areas.
You possibly can see the complete listing of FAA-approved companions who present near-real time airspace authorizations and knowledge right here.
Amongst these authorized companions contains, sure, Aloft. Actually, 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 at the moment not a characteristic within the present B4UFly app, neither is it within the Air Conscious app. (It wasn’t attainable within the FAA-partnered model due to the no consumer registration potential). However, Hegranes hinted that native LAANC performance (versus linking to the Aloft Air Management apps or web site) is a characteristic being explored within the new app.