Aerial Imagery in Miles City, MT

Airports & LAANC Zones

• MLS — Miles City Municipal Airport (Class E airspace, 3 miles northwest, general aviation, no control tower)
• BIL — Billings Logan International Airport (Class D airspace, 145 miles west, reference for regional cross-state operations)
• GGW — Glasgow Municipal Airport (Class E airspace, 200 miles north, reference for northeastern Montana operations)
• SHM — Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport (Class E airspace, 75 miles north, reference for eastern Montana Bakken oil field operations)

Restricted Airspace

• Miles City Municipal Airport (MLS) operates in Class E airspace with no control tower, located 3 miles northwest of downtown. LAANC authorization is not required for Class E surface area, but drone operators must comply with FAA Part 107 regulations and maintain visual line of sight. The airport serves general aviation, air ambulance, and agricultural spraying operations. Monitor the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) 122.9 MHz when operating near the airport. Agricultural spray planes operate at low altitude during the growing season (May through September) across the surrounding Yellowstone River Valley farmland — be especially vigilant and yield right-of-way to all agricultural aircraft.
• The Yellowstone River and Tongue River confluence at Miles City is a sensitive wildlife corridor. While not a formal no-drone zone, the rivers host bald eagle nests, migratory bird activity, and a significant prairie wildlife population. FAA Part 107 prohibits flying directly over non-participants, and wildlife disturbance is addressed under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The Riverside Park and the Tongue River fishing access areas have high pedestrian and angler traffic during summer. Drone operators conducting aerial mapping work along the river corridors should maintain altitude awareness and avoid low-altitude flights near documented nest sites during nesting season (March through August). The Tongue River corridor east of Miles City has significant riparian habitat with cottonwood galleries.
• The Miles City Bridger Pipeline corridor and energy infrastructure on the east side of the city is part of the eastern Montana oil and gas transportation network. The Bridger Pipeline system transports crude oil from the Bakken Formation and Powder River Basin to refineries. Drone operations over or near pipeline corridors and pump stations are restricted under FAA Part 107 and may trigger federal critical infrastructure protection regulations. Drone operators should maintain minimum 500-foot lateral distance from pipeline infrastructure and never fly directly over pump stations or valve sites. The broader Custer County area has active oil and gas well pads that may have drone restrictions on private lease areas.
• The Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory, located just west of Miles City, is a 55,000-acre USDA Agricultural Research Service facility. The facility operates drone research programs for rangeland monitoring and livestock management. Commercial drone operators should coordinate with USDA-ARS facilities management when conducting aerial mapping work near the Fort Keogh property. The facility has restricted airspace for its own drone research flights and maintains a wildlife and livestock research environment. FAA Part 107 regulations apply on all property adjacent to the facility — maintain visual line of sight and do not fly over the research livestock herds.
• The Miles City historic district and the Main Street commercial corridor have heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic during summer tourism season and the famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale event in May. FAA Part 107 prohibits flying directly over non-participants. The Bucking Horse Sale draws over 10,000 visitors annually for the rodeo, horse auction, and parade events. During the event, the Miles City fairgrounds and surrounding streets become mass gathering areas — avoid drone flights over these areas entirely during the event weekend. The Range Riders Museum complex and the historic Range Riders building also attract visitor traffic during summer.

Local Ordinances

Miles City does not have a comprehensive city-specific drone ordinance, relying on FAA Part 107 regulations and Montana state law. Commercial drone operators must hold a valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. The Miles City Parks and Recreation Department requires authorization for commercial drone takeoff and landing on city-owned park property, including Riverside Park, Riverside Park Trail, and the Miles City Fairgrounds. Operations near Miles City Municipal Airport (MLS) in Class E airspace do not require LAANC authorization but must comply with FAA Part 107 visual line-of-sight and yield-right-of-way requirements. The USDA-ARS Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory requires coordination for drone operations near its property. The Bridger Pipeline corridor restrictions apply near energy infrastructure. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks requires permits for drone operations in state parks and wildlife management areas, including the Tongue River Reservoir State Park 25 miles south. Montana Code Annotated § 60-1-101 includes drones in the definition of aircraft, but the state defers to FAA authority for Part 107 commercial operations.