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A Complete Guide to Aloft Air Control for Drone Pilots

A practical guide to Aloft Air Control for drone pilots, from airspace checks and LAANC requests to mission planning, offline preparation, and postflight logs.
Length5 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Aloft Air Control is a drone-operations app for checking airspace and weather, requesting eligible LAANC authorization, planning missions, completing checklists, and recording flights. It is not a substitute for FAA rules or a complete aircraft-control solution: the right way to use it is to check the location and requirements first, prepare the mission, then document the flight and confirm records sync.

What Aloft Air Control does

Aloft Air Control connects preflight planning, in-flight workflows, and postflight records across mobile and web. For an individual pilot, its core tools include airspace information and advisories, weather, eligible LAANC requests, mission planning, checklists, risk assessments, and flight logs. The web dashboard is where users can review and manage flight records. Aloft’s Air Control product page and its Quick Start guide describe the workflow.

Aloft also offers Air Aware, which is separate from Air Control. Aloft’s help page distinguishes the services: LAANC is in Air Control, while its B4UFLY service is integrated into Air Aware. If your goal is to request airspace authorization, use Air Control rather than assuming the two app names refer to the same service. Aloft’s service explainer describes the distinction.

Set up your pilot profile and aircraft

Start by completing the pilot profile, as Aloft recommends in its July 21, 2026 Quick Start guide. Add aircraft assets and the requested identifiers or registration information so that records and workflows can be associated with the aircraft you operate. For an organization account, permissions and standard operating procedures may control what you can add or change; follow your administrator’s directions.

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Individual-pilot core functionality is advertised as free. Aloft’s separate enterprise offering covers organizational capabilities such as team management and reporting; its public materials reviewed do not state an enterprise price or guarantee that every feature is part of every account. Check Aloft’s current plan information or contact the company for a quote before choosing a team workflow. Aloft’s individual-pilot help collection describes the free core offering.

Check airspace and request authorization when required

Before planning the flight, check the location in Air Control and review the applicable airspace ceiling, advisories, and weather. FAA rules require authorization before a drone flight under 400 feet in controlled airspace around airports. LAANC—the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability—provides a way for eligible recreational flyers and Part 107 pilots to submit near-real-time requests. Whether a request is available, and the altitude it allows, depends on the location and applicable ceiling.

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If a Part 107 pilot wants to fly above the altitude shown in a UAS Facility Map, the FAA says a further-coordination request can be submitted up to 90 days ahead for an operation up to 400 feet; the FAA manually coordinates that request. If an operation needs both a waiver and airspace authorization, the FAA directs operators to apply through DroneZone. The FAA’s LAANC page explains the process and lists Aloft among public service suppliers. It states LAANC is available at 726 airports (page last updated September 29, 2026) and notes that listing a provider is not an endorsement.

LAANC covers airspace authorization only. The FAA states: “LAANC provides airspace authorizations only. Pilots must still check NOTAMs, weather conditions, and abide by all airspace restrictions.” A successful request does not remove the need to check temporary restrictions, weather, or other rules before takeoff.

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Separate pilot requirements still apply: recreational flyers must register their drone and take TRUST before their first flight; Part 107 operators must register their drone and hold a Remote Pilot Certificate. Aloft is one of several FAA-listed LAANC service suppliers, so pilots can compare providers using the FAA’s current list rather than treating any provider as the only option.

Plan the mission and prepare for the flight

Create a mission ahead of time or select one for the planned operation. Aloft says a mission can include an operating boundary and can associate flights, checklists, risk assessment logs, weather, and airspace details. Use those fields to keep the plan and its related records together; do not treat a mission boundary as permission to fly beyond the authorization or other applicable limits.

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  • External Module Bay compatible with RadioMaster Nano-size modules and TBS Nano Crossfire/Nano Tracer
  1. Check the flight location in Air Control and review airspace, advisories, and weather.
  2. Submit a LAANC request if the flight requires one and the location supports the applicable request path; wait for authorization before flying in controlled airspace.
  3. Create or select the mission, set the operating boundary if needed, and review the associated risk assessment and checklist.
  4. Complete the preflight workflow before launch, including any organization-specific steps required by your operator.

Use Air Control offline with preparation

Aloft says users can save missions and airspace map areas for offline use. Its detailed guide describes collecting and queuing mission assignments, risk assessments, checklist logs, flight activity, and media uploads when disconnected; queued activity can sync after connectivity returns. Bookmark or search the relevant map area and download the mission before leaving reliable coverage. After reconnecting, verify the queued records and media have synced rather than assuming an upload completed.

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Record flights and complete postflight

During a flight, use the applicable Air Control flight workflow to record activity. If you fly using another app, such as a DJI app, or operate a non-DJI aircraft outside Air Control, Aloft supports manual flight logging. That logging option does not establish that every aircraft is supported for direct control or telemetry in Air Control.

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When the flight ends, follow Aloft’s exit and postflight steps: review the log, add notes, and choose whether to upload media to the device or cloud. Aloft’s detailed guide cautions users to complete the postflight process rather than force-closing the app before logging is finished. Review and manage saved flight records through the web dashboard.

Compatibility, live streaming, and enterprise use

Aloft describes Air Control as hardware-agnostic and supporting operations across UAS manufacturers, but that broad description should not be read as a promise of live control for every model. Its product materials specifically name thermal-camera control for DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise, DJI Matrice 200 Series, and Parrot Anafi Thermal. For other aircraft, verify the exact model and intended function with Aloft; manual logging may still be available when you fly outside the platform. Aloft’s product page gives its stated feature scope.

Live streaming is documented with account permissions, and stream quality depends on the broadcasting device and internet connection. For a team operation, treat this as an additional capability, not as a replacement for a reliable communications plan. Enterprise materials also describe team management, reporting, security, integrations, and APIs; confirm current access and pricing directly with Aloft.

If you are moving from Aloft Classic

Aloft’s individual-pilot help collection documents a route for users of the former Aloft Classic app: register with the same email address and choose the option to migrate data. Because this is historical transition guidance, follow the current in-app instructions and contact Aloft support if the migration option is unavailable or your records do not appear.

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Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Radiomaster Pocket Hall Gimbal Transmitter Remote Control (ELRS-Charcoal)
Radiomaster Pocket Hall Gimbal Transmitter Remote Control (ELRS-Charcoal)
Backlit LCD Screen offering a perfect balance of size and functionality
$79.99
Bestseller No. 3
Bestseller No. 4
RadioMaster Pocket Portable Remote Controller Hall Gimbal EdgeTX Built in LED Light Mode 2 Batteries Not Included (Orange, ELRS)
RadioMaster Pocket Portable Remote Controller Hall Gimbal EdgeTX Built in LED Light Mode 2 Batteries Not Included (Orange, ELRS)
Available in two versions: ExpressLRS OR MPM CC2500; Portable and lightweight design with removable stick ends and foldable antenna
$79.97
SaleBestseller No. 5
DJI FPV Remote Controller 3
DJI FPV Remote Controller 3
DJI Neo, DJI Avata 2, DJI O3 Air Unit, DJI O4 Air Unit Pro, DJI O4 Air Unit
$155.00

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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