Aerial Imaging Services in Findlay, 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 Findlay does not have a specific municipal drone ordinance. Commercial drone operators conducting business within city limits must hold a valid City of Findlay business license. Drone takeoff and landing in Findlay parks requires coordination with the Findlay Parks and Recreation Department, which manages over 300 acres including Riverside Park, the Findlay Reservoir recreation area, and the Blanchard River corridor. Operations near the Marathon Petroleum refinery and Whirlpool manufacturing facilities require coordination with corporate security. Hancock County does not have separate drone regulations beyond federal and state requirements. Commercial operators should carry minimum $1M liability insurance, particularly for industrial and pipeline inspection work.

Restricted Airspace

• Class E: Findlay Airport (FDY) Surface Area. FDY is a non-towered general aviation airport on the east side of Findlay. The airport operates in Class E airspace with no control tower — pilots use CTAF frequency 122.8. While there is no Class D surface area requiring LAANC authorization, operators near the airport should monitor FDY traffic and coordinate with airport operations for any flights near the field. FDY serves general aviation and corporate traffic for the Hancock County business community, including corporate flight operations for Marathon Petroleum and Whirlpool.
• Class C: Toledo Express Airport (TOL) Remote Proximity. TOL Class C airspace extends approximately 10 NM from the airport. Findlay is approximately 45 miles south of TOL, placing the city well outside the Class C boundary. Findlay operates entirely in Class E/G uncontrolled airspace, making it highly accessible for commercial drone operations with no LAANC authorization required for most locations. Operators should still check the FAA sectional chart for their specific grid square.
• Infrastructure: I-75 / US-224 / SR-15 Corridor Complex. Findlay sits at the intersection of I-75 (the primary north-south interstate in northwest Ohio), US-224, and SR-15. I-75 connects Findlay to Toledo to the north and Dayton and Cincinnati to the south. The I-75/US-224 interchange is a major infrastructure node for Hancock County. ODOT has active infrastructure inspection programs along these corridors. The Main Street corridor runs through historic downtown Findlay.
• Infrastructure: CSX / Norfolk Southern Rail and Pipeline Corridors. Findlay has active freight rail corridors (CSX and Norfolk Southern) running through the city, serving industrial and manufacturing facilities. The city is also in the heart of Ohio's natural gas pipeline network, with multiple interstate pipelines crossing the area. Rail and pipeline corridor inspection is a significant application for drone aerial imaging in the Findlay area. Operators near rail and pipeline corridors should maintain safe distances and coordinate with the respective companies for infrastructure inspection work.