Aerial Imaging Services in Dayton, OH

FAA Part 107 Requirements

All commercial drone operations in Ohio require the pilot to hold an active FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Our network operators are verified Part 107 holders.

State Drone Laws

Ohio does not have a comprehensive state-level drone law regulating commercial UAS operations. The state enacted HB 292 (2018) establishing the Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Technology Committee to study UAS integration, and the Ohio Department of Transportation hosts the Ohio UAS Center which promotes safe drone integration into the national airspace system. Ohio does not require a separate state-level drone license or registration for commercial operators beyond FAA requirements. All commercial drone pilots in Ohio must hold a valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and follow federal regulations including airspace authorization via LAANC for operations in controlled airspace. Ohio state parks managed by the Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) require a special use permit for commercial drone operations — contact the individual park office for application. Ohio does not have an explicit state preemption clause for local drone regulations, meaning municipalities may enact their own ordinances regulating takeoff and landing on public property. Operators near military installations (Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center in northeast Ohio) must coordinate with base operations and check for active TFRs. The Ohio General Assembly has introduced several UAS-related bills over the years (including SB 255 addressing drone surveillance privacy) but none have been enacted into comprehensive UAS legislation. The FAA controls all airspace above 400 feet AGL. Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland metropolitan areas have extensive Class B and Class C airspace requiring LAANC authorization.

Local Ordinances

The City of Dayton does not have a specific municipal drone ordinance. Commercial drone operators conducting business within city limits must hold a valid City of Dayton business license. Drone takeoff and landing in Dayton parks requires coordination with the Five Rivers MetroParks system, which manages over 16,000 acres including RiverScape MetroPark, Carriage Hill MetroPark, and the Great Miami River Recreation Trail. Operations near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base require coordination with base operations and checking for active military restrictions and NOTAMs. Operations within DAY Class C, FFO Class C, or MGY Class D airspace require LAANC authorization. Operations near the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park sites require coordination with the National Park Service. Commercial operators should carry minimum $1M liability insurance, particularly for operations near military installations.

Restricted Airspace

• Class C: Dayton International Airport (DAY) Airspace. DAY Class C airspace extends approximately 10 NM from the airport with a 5 NM core surface area up to 3,500 ft MSL and an outer shelf from 1,200 ft AGL to 3,500 ft MSL. The airport is located approximately 9 NM north of downtown, placing northern Dayton, the I-75 corridor, and Vandalia within the Class C airspace. Commercial drone operators in northern Dayton and Montgomery County should check LAANC grid squares. DAY handles over 1.5 million passengers annually plus significant cargo operations.
• Class C: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (FFO) Airspace. Wright-Patterson AFB has Class C airspace extending approximately 10 NM from the base up to 5,000 ft MSL, making it one of the most complex military airspace environments in Ohio. The base is located approximately 8 NM east of downtown Dayton in Fairborn. Much of eastern Dayton, the I-675 corridor, Beavercreek, and Fairborn fall within the WPAFB Class C airspace. Commercial drone operators in eastern Dayton must obtain LAANC authorization and coordinate with base operations. WPAFB is home to Air Force Materiel Command, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the National Air and Space Intelligence Center — one of the largest and most important Air Force installations in the United States.
• Class D: Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport (MGY) Surface Area. MGY Class D airspace extends approximately 4.4 NM from the airport up to 2,500 ft MSL. The airport is located approximately 10 NM south of downtown in Springboro, affecting southern Dayton, Centerville, and Springboro. Commercial drone operators in southern Dayton and the I-75 south corridor should check LAANC grid squares for MGY proximity.
• Special Use: Wright-Patterson AFB Restricted Areas / TFRs. Wright-Patterson AFB has restricted areas and military operating areas associated with research and testing operations at the Air Force Research Laboratory. The base hosts the National Air and Space Intelligence Center and is a major intelligence and research facility. Commercial drone operators near the base should check for active TFRs, NOTAMs, and military airspace restrictions before any mission. The base's significance as a research and intelligence center means airspace restrictions can be issued with short notice. The Huffman Prairie Flying Field (where the Wright Brothers conducted their early flight tests) is on base property and has historical significance but also military security considerations.
• Infrastructure: I-75 / I-70 / I-675 Interchange Complex. Dayton sits at the intersection of I-75 (north-south from Toledo to Cincinnati) and I-70 (east-west from Indianapolis to Columbus), making it a major Midwest freight crossroads. The I-675 bypass connects the southeastern suburbs to I-75 and WPAFB. ODOT has an active drone inspection program for bridge and highway infrastructure. The I-75/I-70 interchange (the Veterans Memorial Interchange) is a critical freight infrastructure node. The Great Miami River corridor through Dayton has flood control infrastructure including the Miami Conservancy District dams and levees, which require periodic inspection.