LiDAR Scanning in College Station, TX

Airports & LAANC Zones

• CLL — Easterwood Airport (Class D, located within College Station — LAANC required)
• TYR — Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (general aviation, 90 miles north, uncontrolled)
• AUS — Austin-Bergstrom International (Class C, 85 miles west — not a factor for local flights)
• IAH — George Bush Intercontinental (Class B, 80 miles southeast — not a factor for local flights)

Restricted Airspace

• Class D airspace around Easterwood Airport (CLL) — located within College Station city limits on the Texas A&M University campus. Drone flights within 4 nautical miles require LAANC authorization. CLL has commercial airline service (American Airlines to DFW) plus active general aviation and university flight operations. This affects data collection work throughout central College Station.
• Texas A&M University campus — the 5,200-acre main campus is one of the largest university campuses in the United States. While not formal restricted airspace, the campus has active security, large outdoor event areas, and sensitive research facilities. Drone flights over the campus should be coordinated with Texas A&M University Police Department. Kyle Field has stadium TFRs during Texas A&M Aggies football games (110,000+ capacity, one of the largest stadiums in the world).
• RELLIS Campus — Texas A&M's 2,000-acre research and testing campus located northwest of the main campus. RELLIS hosts autonomous vehicle testing, drone research facilities, and defense-related research. The campus has restricted airspace for certain testing operations. Always coordinate with RELLIS administration before flying near the campus, as active UAS testing may create airspace conflicts.
• Kyle Field stadium TFRs — during Texas A&M football games, drone flights within 3 nautical miles up to 3,000 ft AGL are prohibited. With a seating capacity of 110,000+, Kyle Field is one of the largest stadiums in the world and generates significant TFR zones. Game day Saturdays in fall are complete no-fly zones for commercial drone operations across most of College Station.
• Biocorridor and research facilities — the Bryan-College Station biocorridor along SH 47 includes the National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing, the Texas A&M Institute for Genomic Medicine, and private biotech companies. These facilities may have security monitoring and airspace sensitivity. Coordinate with facility management for data collection work near biocorridor sites.
• Severe weather: College Station is in the eastern portion of Tornado Alley's southern extent. Spring thunderstorms produce tornadoes, large hail, and flash flooding along the Brazos River. Drone operations during severe weather warnings are restricted. Summer temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity reduce drone battery performance significantly.

Local Ordinances

College Station does not issue a separate city-level drone permit for commercial operators. FAA Part 107 certification and LAANC authorization for the Easterwood Airport (CLL) Class D zone are the primary requirements. Commercial filming on city property requires a permit through the College Station Parks and Recreation Department. The city prohibits drone takeoff and landing in city parks without a special use permit, including Central Park, Bee Creek Park, and Stephen C. Beachy Central Park. Flights from private property (with owner permission) do not require a city permit but must comply with all FAA Part 107 rules and Texas Government Code Chapter 423 critical infrastructure restrictions. The Texas A&M campus requires coordination with University Police for any drone operations on or over campus property.