Aerial Imaging Services in Augusta, ME

FAA Part 107 Requirements

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

State Drone Laws

Maine regulates drone operations primarily through LD 812 (Public Law Chapter 463, enacted 2015), which prohibits law enforcement agencies from using unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance without a warrant, with exceptions for emergency situations, search and rescue, and national security. 17 M.R.S. § 6554 prohibits the use of drones to conduct surveillance of a private property or person without consent, and 12 M.R.S. § 11266 prohibits using drones to harass or disturb wildlife, including hunting and fishing interference. Maine does not require a separate state-level commercial drone license or registration — all commercial operators must hold a valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and register their aircraft with the FAA. The state follows FAA Part 107 preemption on airspace regulation, meaning municipalities cannot enact their own airspace rules but may regulate takeoff and landing on public property. The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands prohibits drone takeoff and landing in all state parks without a special use permit. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife restricts drone operations in wildlife management areas, particularly during nesting and breeding seasons. Acadia National Park (federal) prohibits drone takeoff and landing without a research or commercial filming permit from the National Park Service. The FAA controls all airspace above 400 feet AGL and LAANC authorization is available for Class B, C, and D airspace across Maine, including Portland International Jetport (PWM) Class D and Bangor International Airport (BGR) Class D. Commercial operators near Brunswick Executive Airport (BXM, former NAS Brunswick) should coordinate with airport operations for military and GA traffic patterns.

Local Ordinances

Augusta is governed by Maine state drone law and FAA Part 107. The City of Augusta issues a commercial activity permit for drone takeoff and landing on city-owned property, including the River Walk parklands, the State House Green, and the downtown public plazas. Commercial drone filming for television or advertising requires a film permit, coordinated through the Augusta Development Authority and the city offices. The State House grounds and the government campus are state-owned land requiring authorization from the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS). Augusta Regional Airport, located in the Augusta Industrial Park, is non-controlled and does not require LAANC, but operators should still check NOTAMs. Maine State Parks require a permit for commercial drone takeoff and landing, and the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS) requires a special use permit for flight over refuge habitat. The FAA requires Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification for all commercial operations.

Restricted Airspace

• Augusta Regional Airport (KNO/W29) is a non-controlled regional airport located in the Augusta Industrial Park approximately 7 miles northeast of downtown. It operates under Class E surface and uncontrolled airspace, so commercial drone operations over the airfield do not require LAANC. The airport is a steady source of GA, cargo, and business-aviation traffic along the Kennebec River corridor, and operators should still check NOTAMs before each flight.
• The Maine State Capitol (State House), the statehouse grounds, and the adjacent government campus in downtown Augusta have enhanced security considerations. While there is no permanent TFR over the capitol, temporary flight restrictions are issued during legislative sessions, gubernatorial events, and National Guard deployment windows. Commercial drone operators working near the State House, the State House Green, and government office buildings should check active NOTAMs before each flight and confirm landing permissions on state-owned ground.
• The Kennebec River is the geographic spine of the city and the state. The river corridor through downtown and the Augusta River Walk carries recreational boating, commercial barge, and freight traffic, and the head-of-navigation dam and the industrial riverfront (including the Augusta Industrial Park and paper and packaging facilities) are active commercial zones. Low-altitude flights over the river and its industrial shoreline should account for water traffic and industrial-crane activity.
• Downstate and federal lands surround the city: Sugarloaf State Park, the Penobscot-Kennebec watershed wetlands (including the Great Moose Region and the Great Moose River Wildlife Management Area to the north and west), and the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS) to the west. The refuge restricts commercial drone operations over habitat without a special use permit, and the state park system requires permits for commercial takeoff and landing. Operators surveying wetlands, agricultural fields, or the Moosehead–Sebec watershed should confirm land tenure and file the appropriate permit.
• Maine winters keep the effective construction season short and the light window tight. Daylight drops to roughly 8 to 9 hours in January, and the state average of about 100 snow days concentrates outdoor drone work into the May through October window. Coastal and upstate fog, river mist, and strong northeasterly winds off the Kennebec Valley are the main operational limits, and battery performance drops sharply below 20 F. Commercial operators should plan morning flights for stable conditions and expect shortened winter mission windows.