Aerial Imagery in Conroe, TX

Airports & LAANC Zones

• CXO — Lone Star Executive Airport (general aviation, Montgomery County, uncontrolled Class E)
• IAH — George Bush Intercontinental Airport (Class B, 25 miles south — LAANC required for most of Conroe)
• DWH — David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport (Class D, Tomball, 20 miles southwest)
• SGR — Sugar Land Regional Airport (general aviation, 35 miles south)

Restricted Airspace

• Class B airspace around George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) — the northern shelf of IAH Class B extends into southern Montgomery County, approximately 15-20 miles from Conroe. Most of Conroe proper falls outside the surface area but within the outer shelves. LAANC authorization is required for commercial drone flights in the southern half of Conroe and along the I-45 corridor toward the airport.
• Class D airspace around David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport (DWH) — located 20 miles southwest in Tomball. Drone flights within 4 nautical miles of DWH require LAANC authorization. This affects data collection work in the southwest corner of Montgomery County.
• Lone Star Executive Airport (CXO) — uncontrolled Class E airspace, no LAANC required for typical commercial drone operations. However, CXO has active general aviation traffic including corporate jets and helicopter operations. Pilots should monitor CTAF 122.8 and maintain visual separation. High traffic volume during oil and gas industry commuting hours (7-9 AM, 4-6 PM).
• Lake Conroe — popular recreational area with heavy boat and personal watercraft traffic on weekends. While not formal restricted airspace, low-altitude drone flights over the lake during peak recreation times (weekends, holidays) risk interfering with water sports. FAA Part 107 prohibits flights over moving vehicles not under the operator's control. Recommend weekday morning flights for any lake-adjacent data collection work.
• Sam Houston National Forest — located immediately north of Conroe. Drone flights over national forest land are regulated by the US Forest Service. Commercial drone operations require a special use permit from the Sam Houston Ranger District. Flights for data collection or mapping purposes on private inholdings within the forest boundary still require coordination with the ranger district office.
• ExxonMobil Houston campus (Spring, 10 miles south) — critical infrastructure under TX Government Code Chapter 423. Drone flights over or near the ExxonMobil campus without authorization violate state law. The campus has active security and airspace monitoring.
• Hurricane and tropical weather: Conroe sits inland enough to avoid storm surge but is vulnerable to high winds, tornadoes, and flash flooding from Gulf weather systems. Drone operations during tropical storm warnings are restricted. Post-storm damage assessment flights require coordination with Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management. Summer thunderstorms are frequent — morning flights are strongly preferred May through September.

Local Ordinances

Conroe does not issue a separate city-level drone permit for commercial operators. FAA Part 107 certification is the primary requirement. Drone takeoff and landing on city-owned property, including Carl Barton Jr. Community Park and Candy Cane Park, requires a special use permit from Conroe Parks and Recreation. Commercial filming on city property requires a permit through the Conroe Film Commission. The southern portion of Conroe falls within the IAH Class B outer shelf, making LAANC authorization mandatory for most commercial flights south of FM 2854. 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.