Aerial Imaging Services in Kettering, 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 Kettering does not have a specific municipal drone ordinance beyond state and federal requirements. Commercial drone operators conducting business within city limits must hold a valid City of Kettering business license. Drone takeoff and landing in Kettering city parks requires coordination with the Kettering Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department, which manages the Kettering Recreation Complex, Indian Riffle Park, and the Polen Farm. The Five Rivers MetroParks system manages regional parks in the Dayton area including Possum Creek MetroPark and Hills and Dales MetroPark, which may have separate permitting requirements. Operations within WPAFB Class D, DAY Class C, or MGY Class D airspace require LAANC authorization. Operations near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base should check for military TFRs and training route activity. Commercial operators should carry minimum $1M liability insurance.

Restricted Airspace

• Class D: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (FFO) Surface Area. WPAFB Class D airspace extends approximately 5 NM from the airfield up to 5,000 ft MSL. The base is located approximately 8 NM east of Kettering in Fairborn. Eastern Kettering and the I-675 corridor may fall within the outer edges of the WPAFB Class D airspace. Wright-Patterson is one of the largest Air Force installations in the US, hosting the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Military flight operations, including T-38 trainer and C-17 cargo aircraft, create significant airspace activity. Commercial drone operators in eastern Kettering must check LAANC grid squares and NOTAMs.
• Class C: Dayton International Airport (DAY) Class C Airspace. DAY Class C airspace has a 5 NM core surface area up to 5,000 ft MSL and a 10 NM outer shelf from 1,200 ft AGL to 5,000 ft MSL. The airport is located approximately 15 NM northwest of Kettering. Northern Kettering and the I-75 corridor toward Dayton may fall within the outer shelf of the Class C airspace. Commercial drone operators should check LAANC grid squares. Dayton International handles over 3 million passengers annually with significant cargo operations including FedEx and UPS.
• Class D: Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport (MGY) Surface Area. MGY Class D airspace extends approximately 4.4 NM from the airport up to 2,600 ft MSL. The airport is located approximately 8 NM south of Kettering in Springboro. Southern Kettering and the Washington Township area may fall within the outer edges of the MGY Class D airspace. The airport serves corporate and general aviation for the southern Dayton metro area. Commercial drone operators in southern Kettering should check LAANC grid squares before flight.
• Special Use: WPAFB Restricted Areas and Military Training Routes. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has associated restricted areas (R-1401, R-1402) and military training routes that may affect operations in the Dayton metro area. The base operates T-38 Talon trainer aircraft, C-17 Globemaster cargo aircraft, and other military aircraft. TFRs may be issued during VIP movements, military exercises, or national security events. The base is a major employer in the Dayton area with over 27,000 military and civilian personnel, and its ongoing facility construction generates drone aerial imaging demand. Commercial operators should check NOTAMs for military flight activity before any mission.