Environmental Monitoring in Waynesboro, VA

Airports & LAANC Zones

• CHO — Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (Class D airspace, approximately 20 NM east — regional commercial airport; LAANC available)
• SHD — Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (Class E airspace, approximately 15 NM west — regional GA airport serving the Staunton-Waynesboro-Augusta area; no LAANC required for Class E surface area)
• ROA — Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (Class C airspace, approximately 65 NM south — commercial airport serving Western Virginia; LAANC available)
• LYH — Lynchburg Regional Airport (Class D airspace, approximately 45 NM south — regional commercial and GA airport; LAANC available)
• OKV — Winchester Regional Airport (Class D airspace, approximately 75 NM north — GA airport serving Northern Shenandoah Valley; LAANC available)

Restricted Airspace

• Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO), located approximately 20 NM east of Waynesboro, has Class D airspace with a 4 NM radius surface area. While the CHO Class D does not directly overlap Waynesboro city limits, operators flying in eastern Augusta County toward the Charlottesville area should check CHO Class D boundaries. LAANC authorization is required and available for commercial operations within CHO Class D airspace. The airport handles regional commercial airline service and significant corporate and GA traffic.
• Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD), located approximately 15 NM west of Waynesboro, operates in Class E airspace with a surface area. Class E does not require LAANC authorization for drone operations, but commercial operators should maintain awareness of small aircraft traffic in the vicinity. SHD serves as the primary GA airport for the Staunton-Waynesboro-Augusta County region with corporate, flight training, and recreational traffic. The airport does not have a control tower, so operators should monitor the common traffic advisory frequency.
• The Shenandoah National Park is located approximately 5 NM east of Waynesboro, with its western boundary along the Blue Ridge Mountains directly adjacent to the city. The park is administered by the National Park Service and prohibits drone operations on or over park lands without a special use permit. The park covers approximately 200,000 acres along the Blue Ridge crest. The proximity of the park to Waynesboro means that operators flying east from the city will quickly encounter NPS-administered lands. Rockfish Gap, the entry point to Skyline Drive and the park from I-64, is located just east of Waynesboro. Operators should verify their location does not encroach on park lands.
• The George Washington National Forest borders Augusta County to the west, with extensive forest lands extending into the Allegheny Mountains. The national forest is administered by the U.S. Forest Service, which allows drone operations under FAA Part 107 but may require special use permits for commercial filming or photography on forest lands. Operators flying in western Augusta County near the forest boundary should check USFS regulations. The forest has active timber management and prescribed burn operations that may create temporary airspace considerations and TFRs.
• Waynesboro is located at the intersection of I-64 and I-340, with the South River flowing through the city and the Blue Ridge Mountains rising immediately to the east. The river corridor and the adjacent Blue Ridge generate moderate helicopter traffic including medical transport to Augusta Health hospital, utility inspection along transmission corridors, and occasional news and law enforcement operations. The I-64 corridor through Rockfish Gap has elevated commercial vehicle and occasional helicopter traffic. Drone operators should maintain awareness of low-altitude helicopter traffic, particularly near the hospital campus and along utility corridors.

Local Ordinances

Waynesboro is an independent city in Virginia governed by Virginia state drone law (VA Code § 18.2-260.2 and § 15.2-926.3) and FAA Part 107 regulations. The City of Waynesboro regulates drone takeoff and landing on public property under its municipal authority per § 15.2-926.3. Commercial drone operations in Waynesboro city parks including Ridgeview Park, Coyner Springs Park, and Constitution Park require authorization from the Waynesboro Parks and Recreation Department. Augusta County parks require a commercial use permit. Shenandoah National Park, located approximately 5 NM east with its western boundary along the Blue Ridge Mountains directly adjacent to the city, is NPS-administered and prohibits drone operations without a special use permit. The George Washington National Forest to the west is USFS-administered and allows Part 107 operations but may require permits for commercial filming. Commercial drone filming for construction documentation or real estate marketing on private property requires property owner consent but no city film permit. FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification is required for all commercial operations. LAANC authorization is required for flights within CHO Class D airspace boundaries, though most of Waynesboro is outside this area.