Topographic Data Collection in Portland, ME

Airports & LAANC Zones

• PWM — Portland International Jetport (Class D airspace, located 2 miles west of downtown Portland — Maine largest commercial airport with service from JetBlue, American, Delta, United, and Southwest; LAANC available)
• BXM — Brunswick Executive Airport (Class D airspace, approximately 25 NM north in Brunswick — former Naval Air Station Brunswick, now GA, corporate, and military reserve operations; LAANC available)
• BGR — Bangor International Airport (Class D airspace, approximately 130 NM northeast in Bangor — commercial, cargo, and military; LAANC available; Bangor Air National Guard KC-135 operations)
• LEW — Auburn-Lewiston Airport (Class D airspace, approximately 35 NM north in Auburn — GA and corporate; LAANC available)
• RKD — Knox County Regional Airport (Class D airspace, approximately 80 NM northeast in Owls Head — GA and regional commercial; LAANC available)

Restricted Airspace

• Portland International Jetport (PWM) has Class D airspace with a 4.4 NM radius surface area from the surface up to 2,500 feet AGL. PWM is located just 2 miles west of downtown Portland, meaning the central peninsula, the Old Port district, the West End, and the East Bayside neighborhoods fall within or near the PWM Class D surface area. Commercial drone operators must obtain LAANC authorization before flying within the PWM Class D boundaries. The FAA B4UFLY app should be used to verify exact boundaries. PWM handles significant airline, corporate, and cargo traffic including FedEx and UPS operations, as well as LifeFlight of Maine medevac helicopter flights.
• Brunswick Executive Airport (BXM), approximately 25 miles north of Portland, occupies the former Naval Air Station Brunswick. BXM has Class D airspace and hosts both civilian GA operations and military reserve activity. The former NAS Brunswick site includes the Brunswick Landing business park, and operators flying in the Brunswick area should coordinate with airport operations for military and GA traffic patterns. LAANC authorization is required for the BXM Class D area. The base has a history of P-3 Orion maritime patrol operations and now supports Navy reserve helicopter and C-130 operations.
• Acadia National Park, located approximately 160 miles northeast of Portland on Mount Desert Island, prohibits drone takeoff and landing without a research or commercial filming permit from the National Park Service. The National Park Service banned drone use in all national parks in 2014 (Policy Memorandum 14-05). Commercial drone operators who wish to conduct aerial photography or research in Acadia must obtain a filming permit from the park superintendent. The park encompasses significant coastline, Cadillac Mountain (highest point on the East Coast), and dense visitor areas where low-altitude drone operations pose safety risks.
• LifeFlight of Maine operates medevac helicopter flights from the Maine Medical Center helipad in Portland and from the BXM area. Drone operators flying near Maine Medical Center, the Portland waterfront, and along the I-295 corridor should maintain situational awareness of low-altitude helicopter traffic per FAA Part 107.39. The Fore River area also has occasional marine data collection and tug/barge helicopter traffic. Commercial operators near the Portland Pipeline Corporation facilities on the South Portland waterfront should be aware of critical infrastructure restrictions.
• The Maine State Prison system and military installations including the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (approximately 50 miles south in Kittery) create intermittent TFR activity. While Portland is outside the immediate Portsmouth Naval Shipyard restricted area, operators flying along the southern Maine coast should check NOTAMs for active TFRs. The Brunswick Landing area also has occasional military reserve training flights that generate TFR activity. The FAA B4UFLY app and NOTAM system should be consulted before any commercial operation near these facilities.

Local Ordinances

Portland is governed by Maine state drone regulations (LD 812 / Public Law Chapter 463, 17 M.R.S. § 6554) and FAA Part 107. The City of Portland 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 Portland Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department. Portland parks including Eastern Promenade, Western Promenade, Deering Oaks, Lincoln Park, and the Bayside Trail require explicit permission for commercial drone operations. The Portland waterfront and Commercial Street corridor are regulated by the Portland Harbor Commission for commercial drone filming near the working waterfront and marine facilities. Commercial drone filming for movies, TV, or advertising requires coordination with the Maine Film Office and Portland Police Department. FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification is required for all commercial operations. LAANC authorization is required for flights within the PWM Class D airspace boundary. The University of Southern Maine Portland campus and the University of New England campus in nearby Biddeford require coordination with university facilities management for drone operations on campus property.