Drone Inspection in San Antonio, TX

Airports & LAANC Zones

• SAT — San Antonio International Airport (Class C, north central city — LAANC required)
• SKF — Kelly Field (military, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, southwest — restricted, no LAANC, FAA authorization required)
• SKY — Stinson Municipal Airport (general aviation, uncontrolled Class E, south side — no LAANC required)

Restricted Airspace

• Class C airspace around San Antonio International Airport (SAT) — located in north central San Antonio. LAANC authorization is required for commercial drone flights within the Class C shelves, which extend across much of the north-central, downtown, and northwest areas including the Medical Center, USAA complex, and Pearl Brewery district. The Class C surface area has a 5 nautical mile radius, with shelves extending to 10 nautical miles.
• Kelly Field (SKF) and Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland — military restricted airspace on the southwest side. Drone flights are prohibited without explicit FAA and DoD authorization. The Lackland AFB training areas and Kelly Field runway approaches create extensive restricted zones. Commercial operators must avoid all JBSA-Lackland airspace and coordinate with base operations for any flights within 5 nautical miles.
• Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph (RND) — located 15 miles northeast in Universal City. Randolph AFB has Class D airspace and restricted military operating areas. Drone flights within the RND Class D require LAANC authorization. The base is home to Air Education and Training Command and generates continuous military construction and data collection demand.
• Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston — located in central San Antonio. The post has restricted airspace and security zones around Brooks Medical Center, the BAMC complex, and training areas. Drone flights over the installation require DoD authorization. The Fort Sam Houston area is adjacent to the downtown and East Side neighborhoods.
• Stinson Municipal Airport (SKY) — located on the south side, uncontrolled Class E airspace. No LAANC required for most of south San Antonio. However, SKY has active general aviation traffic including flight training and vintage aircraft operations. Pilots should monitor CTAF and maintain visual separation, especially during weekend traffic and airshow events.
• San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and the Alamo — while not formal restricted airspace, these National Park Service and state historic sites have strict no-drone policies. Drone flights over the Alamo, San Antonio Missions (Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan, Mission Espada), and the San Antonio River Walk are prohibited by NPS regulations and city ordinance. Violations are actively enforced by park rangers and SAPD.
• Six Flags Fiesta Texas and SeaWorld San Antonio — theme park TFRs during events and peak operating season prohibit drone flights within 3 nautical miles up to 3,000 ft AGL. The Fiesta Texas area in northwest San Antonio near La Cantera and the SeaWorld area on the far west side are actively monitored during operating hours.
• Flash flooding and weather: San Antonio sits on the Balcones Escarpment and is crossed by the San Antonio River, Salado Creek, and Leon Creek — all prone to flash flooding during spring and fall thunderstorms. The city experienced severe flooding in 1998, 2002, and 2013. Post-flood data collection work requires coordination with Bexar County Emergency Management. Summer heat (100°F+ days from June through September) limits flight windows to early morning and late evening. High humidity affects equipment and battery performance.

Local Ordinances

San Antonio does not issue a separate city-level drone permit for commercial operators. FAA Part 107 certification and LAANC authorization for Class C (SAT) and Class D (RND) airspace are the primary requirements. The City of San Antonio prohibits drone takeoff and landing in city parks without a special use permit from the Parks and Recreation Department, including Brackenridge Park, McAllister Park, and Hardberger Park. Commercial filming on city property, including the River Walk and Alamo Plaza, requires a permit through the San Antonio Film Commission. Flights over Joint Base San Antonio installations (Lackland, Randolph, Fort Sam Houston) require DoD authorization — city permits do not cover military airspace. Flights from private property (with owner permission) do not require a city permit but must comply with all FAA Part 107 rules, Texas Government Code Chapter 423 critical infrastructure restrictions, and JBSA airspace restrictions.