Aerial Imaging Services in Biddeford, 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

Biddeford is governed by Maine drone law and FAA Part 107. The City of Biddeford requires permission for commercial takeoff and landing on city property, which includes the downtown riverfront, the Saco River channel access, and the city parks. Casco Bay, the Saco River, and the Presumpscot River wetlands are state-managed and require clearance from the appropriate state land authority before a commercial flight. York County parks and the riverfront park trail require a commercial use permit from the county parks office. The city is one of the two twin cities (Saco-Biddeford), so a commercial flight order covering either city should be confirmed with both municipal governments if the mission crosses the boundary. FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification is required for all commercial operations, and LAANC applies when the PWM Class C surface is crossed.

Restricted Airspace

• Biddeford sits in uncontrolled airspace over most of the city and the Saco-River valley. The Biddeford Municipal strip (B19) is an uncontrolled GA field just south of town, so there is no standing Class B or C surface area to clear for routine work inside the city. A LAANC request is only required if a mission crosses the Class C surface toward Portland (PWM) or an active military corridor.
• The Portland International Jetport (PWM) Class C surface is the primary controlled area in the southern Maine corridor, roughly 40 miles north. Commercial work that extends toward the interstate corridor to Portland, or a longer route up the Saco River, should be planned against that Class C boundary and the LAANC ceiling inside it.
• Casco Bay, the Saco River, and the Presumpscot River carry barge, ferry, and low altitude medevac activity. The city is on the tidal river system that feeds into Casco Bay, and operators flying near the river channel, the Biddeford Pool, or the downtown waterfront should watch for the low altitude medevac and news coverage routes that use the river valley.
• The Maine National Guard and regional military aviation use the Presque Isle and Bangor corridors to the north, and those corridors occasionally cross the southern Maine airspace. Part 107 rules against overflight of nonparticipant groups and moving watercraft still apply throughout the city, and FAA TFR and NOTAM checks are the right move before a commercial mission on the river.