Airspace 101 for drone pilots

Class G (uncontrolled): most rural areas — fly without authorization up to 400 ft AGL.

Class B, C, D and surface Class E (controlled, around airports): you need authorization. LAANC grants it in near-real time up to the altitude on the UAS Facility Map grid; above that, apply through FAADroneZone.

Special areas: national parks prohibit launching and landing drones; stadium and security-sensitive areas have restrictions; TFRs pop up for wildfires, VIP movement and events.

Always verify with official FAA tools — apps and maps (including this one) can be out of date.