A flight control system, comprising: an unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV; a flight plan input device; and a flight plan analysis system, separate from the flight plan input device, configured to determine a flight plan decision regarding a proposed flight plan for the UAV, the flight plan analysis system comprising: a flight plan database that stores risk factor data; and a flight plan analysis unit communicatively coupled to the flight plan database, wherein the flight plan analysis unit receives a proposed flight plan for the UAV from the flight plan input device, and determines the flight plan decision based on an analysis of the proposed flight plan and the risk factor data, wherein the flight plan analysis unit immediately approves the proposed flight plan and outputs a flight plan approval signal to the flight plan input device when the analysis of the proposed flight plan and the risk factor data results in a risk metric that is below an approval threshold, the flight plan analysis unit immediately denies the proposed flight plan and outputs a flight plan denial signal to the flight plan input device when the analysis of the proposed flight plan and the risk factor data results in a risk metric that is above a denial threshold, and the flight plan analysis unit immediately refers the proposed flight plan for further review and outputs a flight plan referral signal to an air traffic controller when the analysis of the proposed flight plan and the risk factor data results in a risk metric that is above an approval threshold and below a denial threshold. an unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV; a flight plan input device; and a flight plan analysis system, separate from the flight plan input device, configured to determine a flight plan decision regarding a proposed flight plan for the UAV, the flight plan analysis system comprising: a flight plan database that stores risk factor data; and a flight plan analysis unit communicatively coupled to the flight plan database, wherein the flight plan analysis unit receives a proposed flight plan for the UAV from the flight plan input device, and determines the flight plan decision based on an analysis of the proposed flight plan and the risk factor data, wherein the flight plan analysis unit immediately approves the proposed flight plan and outputs a flight plan approval signal to the flight plan input device when the analysis of the proposed flight plan and the risk factor data results in a risk metric that is below an approval threshold, the flight plan analysis unit immediately denies the proposed flight plan and outputs a flight plan denial signal to the flight plan input device when the analysis of the proposed flight plan and the risk factor data results in a risk metric that is above a denial threshold, and the flight plan analysis unit immediately refers the proposed flight plan for further review and outputs a flight plan referral signal to an air traffic controller when the analysis of the proposed flight plan and the risk factor data results in a risk metric that is above an approval threshold and below a denial threshold. a flight plan database that stores risk factor data; and a flight plan analysis unit communicatively coupled to the flight plan database, wherein the flight plan analysis unit receives a proposed flight plan for the UAV from the flight plan input device, and determines the flight plan decision based on an analysis of the proposed flight plan and the risk factor data, wherein the flight plan analysis unit immediately approves the proposed flight plan and outputs a flight plan approval signal to the flight plan input device when the analysis of the proposed flight plan and the risk factor data results in a risk metric that is below an approval threshold, the flight plan analysis unit immediately denies the proposed flight plan and outputs a flight plan denial signal to the flight plan input device when the analysis of the proposed flight plan and the risk factor data results in a risk metric that is above a denial threshold, and the flight plan analysis unit immediately refers the proposed flight plan for further review and outputs a flight plan referral signal to an air traffic controller when the analysis of the proposed flight plan and the risk factor data results in a risk metric that is above an approval threshold and below a denial threshold.