Aerial Imaging Services in Youngstown, OH

FAA Part 107 Requirements

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

State Drone Laws

Ohio does not have a comprehensive state-level drone law regulating commercial UAS operations. The state enacted HB 292 (2018) establishing the Ohio Aerospace and Aviation Technology Committee to study UAS integration, and the Ohio Department of Transportation hosts the Ohio UAS Center which promotes safe drone integration into the national airspace system. Ohio does not require a separate state-level drone license or registration for commercial operators beyond FAA requirements. All commercial drone pilots in Ohio must hold a valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and follow federal regulations including airspace authorization via LAANC for operations in controlled airspace. Ohio state parks managed by the Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) require a special use permit for commercial drone operations — contact the individual park office for application. Ohio 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 (Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center in northeast Ohio) must coordinate with base operations and check for active TFRs. The Ohio General Assembly has introduced several UAS-related bills over the years (including SB 255 addressing drone surveillance privacy) but none have been enacted into comprehensive UAS legislation. The FAA controls all airspace above 400 feet AGL. Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland metropolitan areas have extensive Class B and Class C airspace requiring LAANC authorization.

Local Ordinances

The City of Youngstown does not have a specific municipal drone ordinance beyond state and federal requirements. Commercial drone operators conducting business within city limits must hold a valid City of Youngstown business license. Drone takeoff and landing in Youngstown city parks requires coordination with the Youngstown Parks and Recreation Commission, which manages Wick Recreation Park, Crandall Park, and the Mill Creek MetroParks system. Mill Creek MetroParks is one of the largest metropolitan park districts in the US at over 5,000 acres and may have specific drone policies. Operations within YNG Class D airspace require LAANC authorization. Operations near the Youngstown Air Reserve Station should check for military TFRs. The former steel mill brownfield sites undergoing environmental remediation may require coordination with the Ohio EPA and property owners. Commercial operators should carry minimum $1M liability insurance.

Restricted Airspace

• Class D: Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport (YNG) Surface Area. YNG Class D airspace extends approximately 4.4 NM from the airport up to 2,800 ft MSL. The airport is located in Vienna Township approximately 10 NM north of downtown Youngstown. The airport shares facilities with the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, home to the 910th Airlift Wing operating C-130H Hercules cargo aircraft. Northern Mahoning County and Trumbull County operations near the airport must check LAANC grid squares. Military aircraft operations may create additional airspace complexity.
• Special Use: Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center. Camp James A. Garfield (formerly Camp Ravenna) is located approximately 15 NM west of Youngstown in Portage and Trumbull counties. The facility is used by the Ohio National Guard and Army Reserve for training exercises including helicopter operations and artillery training. Military training activities may include low-level flights and temporary airspace restrictions. Drone operators in western Mahoning County and eastern Portage County should check for active military flight operations and TFRs before any mission.
• Special Use: Youngstown Air Reserve Station TFRs. The Youngstown Air Reserve Station at YNG airport hosts the 910th Airlift Wing, which operates C-130H Hercules tactical cargo aircraft. Military training flights and operations may create temporary airspace restrictions in the vicinity of the airport. The 910th Airlift Wing is the only unit in the Department of Defense with an aerial spray mission, and their training flights may affect drone operations in the area. Commercial operators should check NOTAMs for military flight activity before any mission near the airport.
• Infrastructure: I-80 / I-76 / I-680 Highway Infrastructure. Youngstown is positioned at the intersection of I-80 (the Ohio Turnpike) running east-west and I-76 running toward Akron. I-680 is the inner belt freeway through the city. The Ohio Turnpike is a major freight corridor with extensive bridge infrastructure. ODOT and the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission conduct regular bridge and highway inspection programs. The Mahoning River corridor through downtown Youngstown has industrial infrastructure including former steel mill sites undergoing environmental remediation.