Aerial Imaging Services in Morgantown, WV

FAA Part 107 Requirements

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

State Drone Laws

West Virginia enacted the Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act in 2017 (WV Code §17-16-1 et seq.), which establishes baseline rules for commercial and recreational drone operations statewide. The law requires all commercial drone operators to hold a valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and register their aircraft with the FAA. West Virginia follows FAA Part 107 preemption on airspace regulation — municipalities cannot enact their own airspace rules but may regulate takeoff and landing on public property. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) prohibits drone takeoff and landing in all state parks and state forests without a special use permit issued by the park superintendent. The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, and other National Park Service properties in West Virginia prohibit all drone operations per 36 CFR 1.4 — no exceptions for commercial operators. The West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) requires notification for drone operations within 500 feet of state highways and bridges for infrastructure inspection projects. No state-level drone registration is required beyond FAA registration. West Virginia privacy statutes (WV Code §61-8-28) address surveillance and harassment — operators must avoid capturing images of private property where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists. The Eastern Panhandle region near the Maryland and Virginia borders has overlapping airspace with multiple Class D and Class B airports including Dulles International (IAD) and Martinsburg Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport (MRB).

Local Ordinances

Morgantown is governed by West Virginia state drone law (WV Code §17-16-1 et seq.) and FAA Part 107 regulations. The City of Morgantown does not have a standalone municipal drone ordinance, but commercial drone takeoff and landing on city-owned property requires authorization from the Morgantown Parks and Recreation Department. City parks including Krepps Park, White Park, and the Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront Park along the Monongahela require explicit permission for commercial drone operations. West Virginia University requires prior approval for any drone operations on or over university property, which covers a large footprint through the city. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) state parks and forests require a special use permit. The West Virginia Department of Transportation requires notification for drone operations within 500 feet of state highways and bridges for infrastructure inspection. FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification is required for all commercial operations. LAANC authorization is required for flights within the MGW Class D airspace boundaries.

Restricted Airspace

• Morgantown Municipal Airport (MGW) has Class D airspace extending from the surface to 2,600 feet AGL within a 4 NM radius. MGW is located approximately 3 miles east of downtown Morgantown, and its Class D controlled airspace covers the eastern portion of the city and surrounding Monongalia County. LAANC authorization is required for commercial drone operations within the MGW Class D lateral boundaries. Despite being the busiest airport in West Virginia by aircraft operations, MGW has one of the shortest commercial runways in the state, and a major multi-phase runway 18-36 extension project is underway to accommodate larger corporate and commercial aircraft. The city of Morgantown received a $9.5 million FAA grant to support the runway extension.
• West Virginia University (WVU) maintains its own unmanned-aircraft policy requiring prior approval before operating on or over university property. WVU has a very large footprint in and around downtown Morgantown, including the main campus, Evansdale campus, the WVU Medicine Ruby Memorial Hospital complex, and the WVU Coliseum and athletic facilities. Commercial drone operators must obtain WVU approval before flying over any university property. This is a significant restriction given the extent of WVU land holdings through the city.
• The Monongahela River valley through Morgantown is a narrow, hilly river corridor that creates challenging GPS, radio line-of-sight, and terrain-masking conditions for drone operations. The steep hillsides on either side of the Monongahela and the WVU stadium area (Milan Puskar Stadium) and downtown create complex operational geometry. The Monongahela River has active barge traffic (coal and industrial cargo), and the Star City and riverfront industrial areas have active rail and industrial corridors.
• Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) Class B airspace is approximately 70 miles north of Morgantown. While the PIT Class B surface area does not extend over Morgantown, the outer shelves of the Class B at higher altitudes can influence airspace mapping for the northern panhandle region. Commercial operators flying below 400 feet AGL in Morgantown are generally outside the PIT Class B lateral boundaries, but should check B4UFLY for specific shelf altitudes when operating near the Pennsylvania border.
• The Morgantown area has moderate helicopter traffic including medical air ambulance (WVU Medicine Ruby Memorial Hospital operates HEMS flights and is the largest hospital in the region) and occasional military, law enforcement, and news aviation. The WVU Medicine helipad and the Ruby Memorial Hospital complex on the Evansdale campus see regular air ambulance activity. Drone operators should maintain situational awareness of HEMS flight corridors and yield right-of-way to all manned aircraft per FAA Part 107.