Aerial Imaging Services in Derry, NH

FAA Part 107 Requirements

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

State Drone Laws

New Hampshire regulates drone operations primarily through RSA 207:37-39, enacted in 2015 and amended in subsequent sessions. RSA 207:37 prohibits the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance of private property without consent and restricts drone operations over correctional facilities, power plants, and other critical infrastructure. RSA 207:38 prohibits weaponizing drones and restricts drone use by law enforcement without a warrant, except in emergency situations. RSA 207:39 addresses privacy concerns, making it unlawful to use a drone to capture images of individuals in private settings without consent. New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation prohibits drone takeoff and landing in all state parks without a special use permit. NH Fish and Game restricts drone operations in wildlife management areas during nesting and breeding seasons. The FAA controls all airspace above 400 feet AGL and LAANC authorization is available for Class B, C, and D airspace across New Hampshire, including Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) Class C and Portland International Jetport (PWM) Class C in adjacent Maine. Commercial operators near Pease Air National Guard Base (Portsmouth) and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard must coordinate with base operations and check NOTAMs.

Local Ordinances

Derry is governed by New Hampshire state drone law (NH RSA 207:37-39) and FAA Part 107 regulations. The town of Derry regulates takeoff and landing on municipal and public property and requires a permit for commercial drone operations on town-owned land, right-of-way, or public park areas. The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation requires a special use permit for commercial drone operations on state park or conservation land within the Derry conservation area and adjacent Merrimack Valley wetlands. The NH Fish and Game restricts drone operations in wildlife management areas, and operators should avoid imagery of migratory-habitat and protected-species parcels. The Merrimack River valley corridors and bridge infrastructure operated by NHTD require advance coordination for any bridge-inspection or corridor-survey work. Commercial drone filming for film, television, or advertising requires a town production permit. FAA Part 107 Remote ID is required for all commercial operations, and LAANC is required for any flight inside the MHT Class C boundary or above 400 feet AGL near Manchester-Boston Regional.

Restricted Airspace

• Derry sits roughly 8-10 miles west of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT), whose Class C airspace extends west into the town. MHT operates a commercial tower and is the primary regional hub for north central New Hampshire. Commercial drone operations within the MHT Class C lateral boundaries require LAANC authorization; the airport has also issued UAS advisories recommending that operators within a 5-statute-mile radius coordinate directly with the MHT communication center in addition to obtaining LAANC.
• Pease Air Reserve Base and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, approximately 30 miles northeast in adjacent Rockingham County, are active military and naval installations with heightened security. Operators flying toward the northern and northeastern edges of Derry toward Portsmouth should treat the vicinity as a no-fly corridor, avoid imagery of classified or restricted facilities, and check active NOTAMs for reserve-flight training schedules.
• The Merrimack River valley through Derry is a frequent low-altitude corridor for news, medevac, and corporate helicopters serving the Manchester–Derry–Nashua hospital network and the regional emergency medical system. Commercial operators should maintain situational awareness of the river corridor and the I-93 / Route 128 beltway corridors, which are common rotary-wing routes toward Manchester and Nashua.
• Derry is also the location of a growing data-center and light-industrial corridor along the northern and eastern sections of town. The town and New Hampshire Department of Energy and the NH Division of Parks and Recreation both expect written permits for commercial drone operations in any state-park or conservation-area parcel. The NH Fish and Game restricts drone operations in wildlife management areas and near wetland preserves, particularly where migratory-bird or protected-species habitat is present.
• The Merrimack River bridges at Derry Village and East Derry carry I-93 traffic, and bridge-structure inspection work by the NH Department of Transportation requires advance notification and coordination with NHTD. FAA Part 107 Remote ID is required for all commercial flights, and LAANC is required for any operation inside the MHT Class C boundary or the Class G corridor that rises above 400 feet AGL near the airport.