Aerial Imaging Services in Wentzville, MO

FAA Part 107 Requirements

All commercial drone operations in Missouri require the pilot to hold an active FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Our network operators are verified Part 107 holders.

State Drone Laws

Missouri does not have a comprehensive state-level drone law. Several UAS-related bills have been introduced in the Missouri General Assembly (including HB 2072 in 2018 and SB 682 in 2022 addressing drone surveillance privacy concerns) but none have been enacted into comprehensive UAS legislation. The state does not require a separate state-level drone license or registration for commercial operators beyond FAA requirements. All commercial drone pilots in Missouri must hold a valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and follow federal regulations including airspace authorization via LAANC for operations in controlled airspace. Missouri state parks managed by the Department of Natural Resources require a special use permit for commercial drone operations — contact the individual park office for application. The Missouri Department of Transportation Aviation Section provides guidance for UAS operators and encourages coordination with airport managers for operations near public-use airports. Missouri does not have an explicit state preemption clause for local drone regulations, meaning municipalities may enact their own ordinances regulating takeoff and landing on public property. Operators near military installations (Fort Leonard Wood, Whiteman Air Force Base, Rosecrans Air National Guard at Rosecrans Memorial Airport) must coordinate with base operations and check for active TFRs. The FAA controls all airspace above 400 feet AGL. St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas have extensive Class B and Class C airspace requiring LAANC authorization.

Local Ordinances

The City of Wentzville does not have a specific municipal drone ordinance, but commercial drone operators conducting business within city limits must hold a valid City of Wentzville business license. Drone takeoff and landing in Wentzville city parks requires a permit from the Wentzville Parks and Recreation Department — contact (636) 332-4234. Operations in eastern Wentzville near the SUS Class D airspace may require LAANC authorization depending on exact location and altitude. St. Charles County does not have separate drone regulations beyond federal and state requirements. Commercial operators should carry general liability insurance of at least $1 million for drone aerial imaging on city and industrial projects. Operations near the General Motors Assembly Plant should coordinate with GM facility security. Wentzville School District facility operations should be coordinated with district administration. The Missouri Department of Conservation areas in the region may require permits for commercial drone operations.

Restricted Airspace

• Class D: Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS) Surface Area. Class D airspace extends approximately 4.4 NM radius from Spirit of St. Louis Airport up to 3,000 ft MSL. SUS is located approximately 12 miles east of Wentzville. Most of Wentzville is outside this airspace, but operators in eastern Wentzville near the St. Charles County line should verify their position relative to the SUS Class D boundary. Drone operations within this controlled airspace require LAANC authorization.
• Class B: St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) Outer Shelf. Class B airspace extends from the surface to 10,000 ft MSL within approximately 10 NM of Lambert Airport, with outer shelves extending west. Wentzville is approximately 30 miles west of STL, placing it well outside the Class B airspace. However, operators should be aware that the outermost Class B shelves extend toward St. Charles County. Most drone operations in Wentzville below 400 ft AGL are not within Lambert's Class B.
• Infrastructure: I-70 / I-64 Interchange and Missouri River Bridges. Wentzville sits at the intersection of I-70 and I-64/US-61, one of the busiest highway interchanges in the St. Louis region. The I-70 corridor and Missouri River bridge crossings (Blanchette Bridge, Daniel Boone Bridge) are critical infrastructure under continuous monitoring and improvement by MoDOT. Drone operations near highway bridges and interchanges should coordinate with MoDOT and follow FAA guidance for critical infrastructure inspection. The Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific rail lines through Wentzville create additional infrastructure aerial imaging demand.
• Infrastructure: General Motors Wentzville Assembly Plant. The GM Wentzville Assembly Center is a major automotive manufacturing facility producing Chevrolet Colorado, Silverado, and GMC Canyon/Canyon vehicles. The plant and its supplier network represent significant industrial infrastructure. Commercial drone operations near the plant should coordinate with GM security and follow FAA guidance for critical infrastructure. The facility generates ongoing construction and expansion aerial imaging demand for plant modifications and supplier facilities.