Aerial Imaging Services in Glenview, IL

FAA Part 107 Requirements

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

State Drone Laws

Illinois regulates commercial drone operations primarily through the Drones Omnibus Act (720 ILCS 5/48-1 through 48-5), enacted as Public Act 99-0566 and effective January 1, 2017. The Act prohibits using drones for surveillance of individuals without consent, restricts law enforcement drone use without a warrant, and bans drone harassment. Commercial drone operators in Illinois must hold a valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and comply with all federal regulations including LAANC authorization for controlled airspace. Illinois does not require a separate state-level drone license or registration beyond FAA requirements. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Division of Aeronautics provides regulatory guidance and coordinates with the FAA on airspace matters. Illinois has state preemption language limiting local municipalities from enacting drone regulations that conflict with state or federal law, though Chicago maintains its own drone ordinance under the Chicago Municipal Code (10-36-070) requiring registration with the city for commercial operations within city limits. Operators near military installations (Naval Station Great Lakes, Scott Air Force Base, Rock Island Arsenal) must coordinate with base operations and check for active TFRs. The FAA controls all airspace above 400 feet AGL. The Chicago metropolitan area has extensive Class B (O'Hare) and Class C (Midway) airspace requiring LAANC authorization for most urban drone operations.

Local Ordinances

The Village of Glenview does not have a specific municipal drone ordinance beyond Illinois state law. Commercial drone operators conducting business within village limits must hold a valid Village of Glenview business license. Drone operations in Glenview parks require coordination with the Glenview Park District, particularly at Gallery Park, Community Park, and the Glenview National 9 Golf Course. Operations near the former Glenview Naval Air Station redevelopment zone should be aware of ongoing construction activity and coordinate with The Glen master developer. Operations near Glenbrook Hospital should avoid emergency helicopter approach corridors. The close proximity to O'Hare Class B and PWK Class D airspace means most commercial drone operations require LAANC authorization. Commercial operators should carry general liability insurance of at least $1 million.

Restricted Airspace

• Class B: O'Hare International Airport (ORD) Class B Airspace. Glenview sits approximately 8 miles east of O'Hare, placing it within the outer rings of O'Hare Class B airspace. The Class B extends in layered shelves up to 10,000 ft MSL, with the inner core (10 nm radius) from the surface up. Most of Glenview falls within the outer shelves where commercial drone operations at or below 400 ft AGL may be permitted via LAANC authorization. Operators must check the FAA LAANC dashboard for their specific grid square, as O'Hare approach and departure corridors create dynamic altitude restrictions that change with active runway configurations. The close proximity to O'Hare makes this one of the more restrictive airspace environments in the Chicago suburbs.
• Class D: Chicago Executive Airport/Wheeling (PWK) Class D Airspace. Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) in Wheeling has Class D airspace extending approximately 4 nautical miles from the airport up to 2,500 ft AGL. Northern sections of Glenview near Willow Road may fall within the southern edge of this airspace. PWK handles corporate and general aviation traffic for the North Shore suburbs, creating a busy traffic pattern. Commercial drone operators within this area must obtain LAANC authorization and monitor the PWK CTAF frequency for transient aircraft. The airport generates corporate aviation facility construction and maintenance demand.
• Infrastructure: Former Glenview Naval Air Station (GNAS) Redevelopment Zone. The former Glenview Naval Air Station was decommissioned in 1995 and redeveloped into The Glen, a 1,100-acre mixed-use development with residential, commercial, recreational, and institutional uses. The former military runway and taxiway corridors are now converted to residential streets and parkland, but underground infrastructure and environmental remediation projects continue. The redevelopment zone has ongoing construction including the Gallery Park area, Glen Town Center commercial district, and residential buildout. Drone operators should be aware that while the military airspace is deactivated, the area's proximity to O'Hare approach paths still requires LAANC authorization.
• Infrastructure: I-294 Tri-State Tollway / I-94 Edens Expressway Corridor. Glenview sits between the I-294 Tri-State Tollway to the west and the I-94 Edens Expressway to the east. Both corridors are maintained by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) and IDOT, with continuous bridge inspection, pavement rehabilitation, and interchange improvement projects. The I-294/I-94 interchange is a major infrastructure node. The Edens Spur connecting to the Kennedy Expressway creates a critical north-south transportation corridor. Drone operations near highway infrastructure should coordinate with IDOT and ISTHA and follow FAA guidance for critical infrastructure inspection.