[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":304},["ShallowReactive",2],{"en-post-faa-order-7200-23e-tower-inspection-laanc-2026":3,"en-related-faa-order-7200-23e-tower-inspection-laanc-2026":272},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"body":7,"category":253,"date":254,"description":255,"draft":256,"extension":257,"image":258,"meta":259,"navigation":260,"path":261,"seo":262,"slug":263,"stem":264,"tags":265,"translation_slug":244,"updated":270,"__hash__":271},"en_posts\u002Fen\u002Fposts\u002Ffaa-order-7200-23e-tower-inspection-laanc-2026.md","FAA Order 7200.23E: Tower Drones Fly Above LAANC Grids","Lucas Buzzo",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":243},"minimark",[10,22,25,30,44,51,54,56,60,63,66,82,85,87,91,94,146,149,151,155,187,189,193,196,219,221,225,228,230],[11,12,13,14,21],"p",{},"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 ",[15,16,20],"a",{"href":17,"rel":18},"https:\u002F\u002Fdronexl.co\u002F2026\u002F10\u002F09\u002Ffaa-order-7200-23e-tower-inspections-above-laanc-grids\u002F",[19],"nofollow","DroneXL",", the order makes 36 policy changes and replaces the 2023 version.",[23,24],"hr",{},[26,27,29],"h2",{"id":28},"what-is-faa-order-720023e","What Is FAA Order 7200.23E?",[11,31,32,33,37,38,43],{},"Order JO 7200.23E, ",[34,35,36],"em",{},"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 ",[15,39,42],{"href":40,"rel":41},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.faa.gov\u002Fregulations_policies\u002Forders_notices\u002Findex.cfm\u002Fgo\u002Fdocument.information\u002FdocumentID\u002F1045676",[19],"FAA's orders page"," lists it as active and issued on 2026-10-01. It replaces JO 7200.23D from March 2023.",[11,45,46,50],{},[47,48,49],"strong",{},"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.",[11,52,53],{},"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.",[23,55],{},[26,57,59],{"id":58},"how-do-tower-inspections-above-laanc-grids-work","How Do Tower Inspections Above LAANC Grids Work?",[11,61,62],{},"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.",[11,64,65],{},"The reported conditions are:",[67,68,69,73,76,79],"ul",{},[70,71,72],"li",{},"Stay at least 2 nautical miles from runways, heliports, seaplane bases, and vertiports unless separately authorized.",[70,74,75],{},"Keep 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontally from clouds.",[70,77,78],{},"Maintain 3 statute miles of visibility from the control station.",[70,80,81],{},"Apply to structures such as cell towers, communications towers, and high-rise buildings. Bridges and power lines do not qualify.",[11,83,84],{},"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.",[23,86],{},[26,88,90],{"id":89},"new-altitude-ceilings-in-class-e-surface-areas","New Altitude Ceilings in Class E Surface Areas",[11,92,93],{},"In Class E airspace extending to the surface, the order sets ceilings by distance from the airport reference point, according to DroneXL:",[95,96,97,110],"table",{},[98,99,100],"thead",{},[101,102,103,107],"tr",{},[104,105,106],"th",{},"Distance from airport",[104,108,109],{},"Part 107 ceiling",[111,112,113,122,130,138],"tbody",{},[101,114,115,119],{},[116,117,118],"td",{},"Inside 2 nm (3.7 km)",[116,120,121],{},"Prior approval from the air traffic facility required",[101,123,124,127],{},[116,125,126],{},"2 to 3 nm",[116,128,129],{},"100 ft (30 m)",[101,131,132,135],{},[116,133,134],{},"3 to 4 nm",[116,136,137],{},"200 ft (61 m)",[101,139,140,143],{},[116,141,142],{},"Beyond 4 nm",[116,144,145],{},"400 ft (122 m)",[11,147,148],{},"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.",[23,150],{},[26,152,154],{"id":153},"other-changes-in-the-36-item-update","Other Changes in the 36-Item Update",[67,156,157,163,169,175,181],{},[70,158,159,162],{},[47,160,161],{},"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.",[70,164,165,168],{},[47,166,167],{},"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.",[70,170,171,174],{},[47,172,173],{},"COAs:"," Extensions are capped at 60 days and barred after a COA expires.",[70,176,177,180],{},[47,178,179],{},"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.",[70,182,183,186],{},[47,184,185],{},"Terminology:"," \"Pentagon\" becomes \"Department of War,\" and a new chapter covers FAA and NAV CANADA handling of six border airports.",[23,188],{},[26,190,192],{"id":191},"what-this-means-for-drone-pilots","What This Means for Drone Pilots",[11,194,195],{},"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.",[11,197,198,199,203,204,208,209,213,214,218],{},"Recreational flyers see little relief and a firmer line inside 2 nm of airports. Pilots new to controlled airspace should review how to ",[15,200,202],{"href":201},"\u002Fdrone-no-fly-zones-guide\u002F","check no-fly zones and LAANC"," and the ",[15,205,207],{"href":206},"\u002Fdrone-laws-usa\u002F","US drone laws"," before flying. Anyone planning commercial work needs the ",[15,210,212],{"href":211},"\u002Ffaa-part-107-license\u002F","FAA Part 107 license",". Operators looking at longer-range work should also read what ",[15,215,217],{"href":216},"\u002Fwhat-is-bvlos\u002F","BVLOS"," means under current rules.",[23,220],{},[26,222,224],{"id":223},"faq","FAQ",[223,226],{":items":227},"[{\"question\":\"What is FAA Order JO 7200.23E?\",\"answer\":\"It is the FAA's internal order for processing drone requests, including airspace authorizations, waivers, and COAs. Issued October 1, 2026, it replaces the 2023 version and contains 36 policy changes, according to DroneXL.\"},{\"question\":\"Can I inspect a cell tower above LAANC altitude without calling the tower?\",\"answer\":\"Under the reported rule, yes for Part 107 visual-line-of-sight flights. You must stay within 100 feet of the structure, no more than 100 feet above its top, and at least 2 nautical miles from runways unless separately authorized.\"},{\"question\":\"What is the new drone ceiling 3 to 4 nautical miles from an airport?\",\"answer\":\"In Class E surface areas, the Part 107 ceiling is 200 feet (61 m) between 3 and 4 nautical miles from the airport. It is 100 feet at 2 to 3 nm and 400 feet beyond 4 nm, per DroneXL's reading of the order.\"},{\"question\":\"Does the order change rules for recreational drone flyers?\",\"answer\":\"Mostly no. Section 44809 recreational flyers still cannot get requests approved inside 2 nautical miles of an airport, and individuals will not receive approvals for fixed flying sites, which are reserved for community-based organizations.\"}]",[23,229],{},[11,231,232],{},[34,233,234,235,238,239],{},"Sources: ",[15,236,20],{"href":17,"rel":237},[19]," | ",[15,240,242],{"href":40,"rel":241},[19],"FAA Orders and Notices",{"title":244,"searchDepth":245,"depth":245,"links":246},"",2,[247,248,249,250,251,252],{"id":28,"depth":245,"text":29},{"id":58,"depth":245,"text":59},{"id":89,"depth":245,"text":90},{"id":153,"depth":245,"text":154},{"id":191,"depth":245,"text":192},{"id":223,"depth":245,"text":224},"news","2026-10-10","FAA Order 7200.23E lets Part 107 pilots inspect towers above LAANC grid altitudes without a tower call. Here are the new limits and what else changed.",false,"md","\u002Fimages\u002Fdrone-laws-usa.jpg",{},true,"\u002Fen\u002Fposts\u002Ffaa-order-7200-23e-tower-inspection-laanc-2026",{"title":5,"description":255},"faa-order-7200-23e-tower-inspection-laanc-2026","en\u002Fposts\u002Ffaa-order-7200-23e-tower-inspection-laanc-2026",[266,267,268,269],"faa","laanc","part 107","regulation",null,"ZxqkQjcvKaHVXjaCk60PKwTycM7l_2hC_m9M9MhgARw",[273,275,286,295],{"title":5,"description":255,"date":254,"category":253,"image":258,"slug":263,"tags":274,"author":6},[266,267,268,269],{"title":276,"description":277,"date":278,"category":253,"image":279,"slug":280,"tags":281,"author":6},"Amazon Prime Air Eyes Australia, Posts CASA Approvals Job","Amazon Prime Air is hiring a Head of Regulatory Approvals in Australia to win CASA sign-off for its MK30 drone. Here's what the job ad reveals and what's next.","2026-10-09","\u002Fimages\u002FPrime-Air.jpg","amazon-prime-air-australia-casa-hiring-2026",[282,283,284,285,217],"Amazon Prime Air","CASA","drone delivery","Australia",{"title":287,"description":288,"date":278,"category":253,"image":289,"slug":290,"tags":291,"author":6},"FCC Drone Spectrum Vote: 50 MHz at Stake on Oct. 29","The FCC will vote Oct. 29 on opening 50 MHz of 800 MHz spectrum to drones. Here's what the proposal changes, what it doesn't, and why BVLOS operators care.","\u002Fimages\u002Ffcc-american-drone-dominance-2026.jpg","fcc-800-mhz-drone-spectrum-vote-2026",[292,217,293,294],"FCC","drone regulations","spectrum",{"title":296,"description":297,"date":298,"category":253,"image":289,"slug":299,"tags":300,"author":6},"Dronus K500L Drone Gets FCC Ban Exemption (Oct 2026)","The FCC granted the Italian Dronus K500L drone a Covered List exemption on Oct. 2, 2026. Here's what the Conditional Approval requires and what it signals.","2026-10-08","fcc-dronus-k500l-covered-list-exemption-2026",[301,269,302,303],"fcc","covered list","drone market",1791618778863]