Aerial Imagery in Mt. Pleasant, MI

Airports & LAANC Zones

• MOP — Mt. Pleasant Municipal Airport (Class E airspace, located approximately 4 NM west of downtown, handles general aviation and corporate traffic for the Isabella County area)
• MBS — Saginaw-Midland-Bay City International Airport (Class D airspace, approximately 30 NM east in Freeland, serves the Tri-Cities area with commercial and general aviation)
• LNR — Gratiot Community Airport (Class E airspace, approximately 20 NM south in Alma, handles general aviation for the Gratiot County area)

Restricted Airspace

• Mt. Pleasant is in Class E uncontrolled airspace. Mt. Pleasant Municipal Airport (MOP) is a small GA facility west of the city without Class D airspace. The nearest controlled airspace is MBS International Airport Class D approximately 30 NM east. Most of Mt. Pleasant and the surrounding area is in uncontrolled airspace, making it more accessible for commercial drone operations than cities under Class B/C/D. Operators should still check the FAA B4UFLY app for their specific location.
• Central Michigan University (CMU) is a major educational institution with approximately 14,000 students on the Mount Pleasant campus. The CMU campus includes academic buildings, residential facilities, the Kelly/Shorts Stadium, the McGuirk Arena, and the Bovee University Center. Operations near the campus should coordinate with CMU administration. The campus has ongoing construction and renovation activity including academic building construction, residential facility upgrades, and campus infrastructure improvements. The Michigan Centered program offers incentives for CMU graduates to stay in the area, driving local development.
• The Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort, operated by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, is a major facility approximately 3 NM east of downtown. The casino complex includes the gaming facility, the hotel, the entertainment venue, and the outdoor concert amphitheater. Operations near the casino complex should coordinate with the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police. The facility has ongoing expansion and renovation activity. The tribal lands have sovereign jurisdiction considerations for commercial drone operations.
• The Chippewa River corridor and the Coldwater Lake area have environmental and recreational considerations. The Chippewa River flows through the heart of Mt. Pleasant and has ongoing environmental monitoring demand. The Mission Street corridor and the Pickard Street corridor are major commercial and transportation corridors. The Isabella County Road Commission has an active construction and infrastructure inspection program.
• The Mission Street Improvement Plan is a major infrastructure project. In March 2024, the City contracted with Progressive Companies to develop an improvement plan addressing traffic and streetscape along the Mission Street corridor. The US-127 corridor connects Mt. Pleasant to Lansing and Grand Rapids. The Pickard Street and Broadway Street corridors have ongoing commercial and residential development. MDOT North Region manages state highway infrastructure in the area.

Local Ordinances

Mt. Pleasant operates under the Michigan Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act (Public Act 451 of 2016, MCL 259.301 et seq.) which preempts local regulation of drone flight paths and navigable airspace. The City of Mt. Pleasant requires a business license for commercial drone operators. Drone takeoff and landing in city parks requires coordination with the Mt. Pleasant Parks and Recreation Department, including Island Park, Nelson Park, and the Chippewa River Trail system. Operations near Central Michigan University should coordinate with CMU administration. Operations near the Soaring Eagle Casino should coordinate with the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police. Commercial operators should carry minimum $1M liability insurance for aerial imaging projects.