The FAA B4UFly app is ready to see some large modifications 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’ll be able to 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.  The truth is, it’s getting greater. Quite 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 non-public firms.

“The B4UFLY program will not be going away, it’s truly increasing,” FAA spokesperson Rick Breitenfeldt instructed The Drone Woman. “The FAA is partnering with a number of firms who will combine airspace consciousness with airspace authorizations.”

Breitenfeldt stated to count on 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 completely 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 a particularly 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, opinions improved. At this time, 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 discipline of airspace consciousness for drone pilots.

The truth is, it’s simply introduced a brand new partnership that would 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 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 instructed The Drone Woman. “We discovered quite a bit 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 substitute to the B4UFly app. Whereas the previous app principally centered on circumstances earlier than takeoff, Hegranes stated the brand new and improved app is all about “redefining situational consciousness to embody the complete 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 intently and actively soliciting suggestions for the place we must always take the platform,” he stated to The Drone Woman. 

The truth is, Hegranes stated they’ve already obtained a whole bunch of submissions for requested app options. He stated you’ll be able to submit your individual app function requests right here.

With the brand new Air Conscious app, you’ll be able to nonetheless count on some comparable options as you’ll discover within the B4UFly app, together with Notify & Fly. It additionally consists of Air Management – for superior fleet, staff, 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 numerous 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 function. Pilot Institute presents programs on each drones and airplanes on subjects together with passing the Half 107 take a look at 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. Quick for the Leisure Unmanned Plane Programs 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 by 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’ll now not situation updates to the B4UFLY utility. As an alternative, Aloft will deal with Air Conscious.

You’ll be able to 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 predict we are able to have an even bigger impression on this section of drone pilots than we may earlier than by having the ability to provide a extra full and built-in utility and suite of capabilities and content material,” Hegranes stated.

What in regards to the present FAA B4UFly app?

Regardless that Aloft has moved on, the present B4UFly app remains to be obtainable 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. In fact, Aloft is definitely not severing ties with the FAA.

“Going ahead, we proceed to look ahead to working intently with the FAA to advertise the secure integration of drones into the Nationwide Airspace System (NAS) and supply superb instruments and applied sciences for all drone pilots,” Hegranes stated. “Drones (leisure and industrial) already characterize 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 beneath 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 computerized approval to fly in locations the place they usually can not with out such approval.

A couple of dozen firms accomplice with the FAA to offer that computerized approval. The apps work by checking requests in opposition to airspace knowledge sources reminiscent of UAS Facility Maps, Momentary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) and Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) to determine whether or not it’s secure for pilots to fly in these areas.

You’ll be able to see the complete checklist of FAA-approved companions who present near-real time airspace authorizations and data right here.

Amongst these accredited companions consists of, sure, Aloft. The truth is, 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 function 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 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. 

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