LiDAR Scanning in Bellevue, NE

Airports & LAANC Zones

• OFF — Offutt Air Force Base (Class C airspace, within Bellevue city limits, home of US Strategic Command and the 55th Wing, restricted military airspace)
• OMA — Eppley Airfield (Class C airspace, 10 NM north of Bellevue, primary commercial airport for the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro)
• MLE — Millard Municipal Airport (Class E airspace, 15 NM northwest in west Omaha, general aviation, no control tower)
• CBF — Council Bluffs Municipal Airport (Class E airspace, 8 NM east across the Missouri River in Iowa, general aviation)

Restricted Airspace

• Offutt Air Force Base (OFF) Class C airspace is the dominant restricted zone in Bellevue. The base is home to US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), the 55th Wing, and the 557th Weather Wing. The Class C airspace extends approximately 5 nautical miles from the base with surface areas from the ground up to 4,000 feet MSL. LAANC authorization is required for all commercial drone operations within the Class C surface area. This is one of the most strategically sensitive military installations in the United States — drone operators must check NOTAMs for active TFRs, VIP movements, and military flight operations before any flight. Unauthorized drone activity near Offutt triggers immediate security response and potential federal investigation.
• Eppley Airfield (OMA) Class C airspace extends approximately 5 nautical miles from the airport center to the north. While most of Bellevue is outside the OMA Class C surface area, the outer ring (1,200 to 4,000 feet MSL) may affect northern Bellevue neighborhoods near the Douglas County line. Check the FAA B4UFLY app to determine if your specific flight location falls within OMA airspace.
• Presidential and VIP TFRs frequently occur around Offutt AFB when national leadership visits USSTRATCOM. These TFRs can extend up to 30 nautical miles and restrict all drone operations, including commercial Part 107 flights with LAANC authorization. TFRs are issued via NOTAM and can activate with little public notice. Always check NOTAMs within 24 hours of any planned flight in the Bellevue area.
• Bellevue city parks require authorization from Bellevue Parks and Recreation for commercial drone takeoff and landing. Haworth Park along the Missouri River, Bellevue Berry Farm and Pumpkin Patch, and the Bellevue Recreation Area are popular outdoor spaces where drone operations need prior approval. The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District manages flood control lands and levee systems along the Missouri Riverfront where additional property use agreements may apply.
• The Missouri River corridor along Bellevue's eastern border has barge traffic, bridge infrastructure, and railroad lines. The Bellevue Bridge carries US-34 across the Missouri River connecting to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Critical infrastructure drone inspections near bridges, rail lines, and utility corridors should coordinate with facility owners and avoid flying over moving vehicles or vessels per FAA Part 107 regulations.

Local Ordinances

Bellevue does not have a comprehensive city-specific drone ordinance, relying on FAA Part 107 regulations and Nebraska state law. Commercial drone operators must hold a valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. The Bellevue Parks and Recreation Department requires permits for commercial drone takeoff and landing on city-owned park property, including Haworth Park and the Bellevue Recreation Area. Operations near Offutt Air Force Base (OFF) Class C airspace require LAANC authorization via the FAA B4UFLY app or approved providers (Aloft, AirMap). Given Offutt's role as US Strategic Command headquarters, drone operators should maintain heightened awareness of NOTAMs and temporary flight restrictions, which can activate with minimal public notice during VIP visits and military exercises. The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District manages levee and flood control lands along the Missouri River where additional property use agreements may be required. Nebraska Revised Statute § 2-4,119 restricts drone surveillance of agricultural operations without owner consent, relevant to the agricultural areas in southern Sarpy County near Springfield and Gretna.