FAA Order 7200.23E: Tower Drones Fly Above LAANC Grids

The FAA's new Order JO 7200.23E, issued October 1, 2026, lets Part 107 pilots inspect cell towers and other tall structures above LAANC grid altitudes without calling air traffic control, as long as the drone stays within 100 feet of the structure. According to reporting by DroneXL, the order makes 36 policy changes and replaces the 2023 version.

What Is FAA Order 7200.23E?

Order JO 7200.23E, Processing of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Requests, is the internal FAA handbook that tells air traffic facilities how to handle drone authorizations, waivers, and certificates of authorization (COAs). The FAA's orders page lists it as active and issued on 2026-10-01. It replaces JO 7200.23D from March 2023.

LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) is the automated system that approves drone flights in controlled airspace up to a maximum altitude shown on the FAA's facility map grid. Until now, flying above that grid altitude generally required a manual request to the air traffic facility.

DroneXL reports the order takes effect October 31, 2026. The FAA page does not state that date in the search summary we reviewed, so confirm it in the order itself before relying on it.

How Do Tower Inspections Above LAANC Grids Work?

Under paragraph 3-5, as described by DroneXL, a Part 107 visual-line-of-sight inspection of a vertical structure can operate above the facility map altitude without air traffic coordination. The flight must stay within 100 feet (30 m) of the structure and no more than 100 feet above its top.

The reported conditions are:

• Stay at least 2 nautical miles from runways, heliports, seaplane bases, and vertiports unless separately authorized.
• Keep 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontally from clouds.
• Maintain 3 statute miles of visibility from the control station.
• Apply to structures such as cell towers, communications towers, and high-rise buildings. Bridges and power lines do not qualify.

Authorizations can be site-specific or nationwide and can run up to 24 months. Requests still go through FAADroneZone, and Department of War airspace is excluded.

New Altitude Ceilings in Class E Surface Areas

In Class E airspace extending to the surface, the order sets ceilings by distance from the airport reference point, according to DroneXL:

Every authorization requires a 1,000-foot cloud ceiling. Recreational flyers under Section 44809 cannot get requests approved inside 2 nm. Individuals will not receive approvals for fixed flying sites, which are reserved for community-based organizations.

Other Changes in the 36-Item Update

• Multi-day approvals: At or below grid altitude in LAANC airspace the default is a single day. Multi-day approvals at grid altitude are reserved for first responders.
• Waivers: Operational waivers move from FAADroneZone to the FAA's Aviation Safety Hub, and a moving-vehicle waiver under 14 CFR 107.145 is added.
• COAs: Extensions are capped at 60 days and barred after a COA expires.
• Part 91 operations: All Part 91 drone flights, visual or beyond visual line of sight, now require a waiver from the see-and-avoid rule, 14 CFR 91.113(b). BVLOS waivers go to Flight Standards office AFS-750, with applications due 60 business days ahead.
• Terminology: "Pentagon" becomes "Department of War," and a new chapter covers FAA and NAV CANADA handling of six border airports.

What This Means for Drone Pilots

The most direct winners are commercial pilots who inspect telecom towers and tall buildings. A single approved flight above the grid no longer needs a call to the tower, which shortens planning for utility and telecom crews.

Recreational flyers see little relief and a firmer line inside 2 nm of airports. Pilots new to controlled airspace should review how to check no-fly zones and LAANC and the US drone laws before flying. Anyone planning commercial work needs the FAA Part 107 license. Operators looking at longer-range work should also read what BVLOS means under current rules.

FAQ

Sources: DroneXL | FAA Orders and Notices