Topographic Data Collection in Manchester, NH

Airports & LAANC Zones

• MHT — Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (Class C airspace, located 3 miles south of Manchester city center — New Hampshire largest commercial airport with service from American, Southwest, United, and Delta; LAANC available)
• LEB — Lebanon Municipal Airport (Class D airspace, approximately 70 NM north in Lebanon, NH — GA and regional commercial; LAANC available)
• CON — Concord Municipal Airport (Class D airspace, approximately 20 NM north in Concord — GA and corporate; LAANC available)
• ASH — Nashua Airport / Boire Field (Class D airspace, approximately 12 NM south in Nashua — GA and corporate; LAANC available)
• PSM — Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (Class C airspace, approximately 45 NM east in Portsmouth — former Pease Air Force Base, now commercial and cargo GA; LAANC available; shares airspace with Pease Air National Guard)

Restricted Airspace

• Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) has Class C airspace with a 5 NM radius surface area from the surface up to 4,000 feet AGL, and an outer area extending from 10 NM to 20 NM up to 10,000 feet. MHT is located 3 miles south of Manchester city center, meaning southern and central Manchester fall within or near the MHT Class C surface area. Commercial drone operators must obtain LAANC authorization before flying within the MHT Class C boundaries. The FAA B4UFLY app should be used to verify exact boundaries. MHT handles significant airline, corporate, and cargo traffic including Fedex and UPS operations.
• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) Class B airspace extends into southern New Hampshire. The BOS Class B outer shelf reaches 7,000 feet AGL over the Salem, NH area approximately 25 NM southeast of Manchester. While Manchester city center is outside the BOS Class B lateral boundaries, operators flying in southern Hillsborough County near the Massachusetts border should be aware of BOS Class B traffic patterns. LAANC authorization is not typically required for the BOS Class B outer area at the altitudes used by commercial drone operators, but operators should check the FAA B4UFLY app for exact boundaries.
• Pease Air National Guard operates KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tankers from Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (PSM), approximately 45 NM east of Manchester. Military flight operations create intermittent MOA and TFR activity along the seacoast. While Manchester is outside the immediate Pease traffic pattern, operators flying in the seacoast region should check NOTAMs for active TFRs. PSM shares Class C airspace with civilian operations and LAANC authorization is required for the PSM Class C area.
• The White Mountain National Forest lies approximately 70 miles north of Manchester. While the national forest does not have restricted airspace per se, the FAA recommends maintaining safe altitude when operating near mountainous terrain. Drone operations in the national forest require a special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service for commercial filming or research. The Mount Washington summit area has challenging weather and wind conditions that make drone operations hazardous. Commercial operators should also be aware of the Appalachian Mountain Club huts and trails corridor where low-altitude operations could endanger hikers.
• The Manchester area has moderate helicopter traffic including Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center medevac flights (Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team), New Hampshire State Police helicopter operations, and news helicopters from Boston media outlets covering southern NH stories. The I-93 and I-293 corridors through Manchester have active medevac helicopter routes. The Merrimack River corridor has occasional scenic and data collection helicopter traffic. Drone operators flying near the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Manchester clinic, Catholic Medical Center, or along the highway corridors should maintain situational awareness of low-altitude helicopter traffic per FAA Part 107.39.

Local Ordinances

Manchester is governed by New Hampshire state drone regulations (RSA 207:37-39) and FAA Part 107. The City of Manchester does not have a specific municipal drone ordinance as of 2026, but commercial drone takeoff and landing on city-owned property requires authorization from the Manchester Parks and Recreation Department. Manchester city parks including Derryfield Park, Livingston Park, Victory Park, and Pulaski Park require explicit permission for commercial drone operations. The Heritage Trail and Merrimack River waterfront corridor are regulated by the Manchester Planning Department for commercial drone filming. Commercial drone filming for movies, TV, or advertising requires coordination with the New Hampshire Film Bureau and Manchester Police Department. FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification is required for all commercial operations. LAANC authorization is required for flights within the MHT Class C airspace boundary. The University of New Hampshire at Manchester campus requires coordination with UNH facilities management for drone operations on university property. The SNHU (Southern New Hampshire University) campus in Hooksett, just north of Manchester, also requires coordination for drone operations on campus grounds.