Aerial Imaging Services in Salem, 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

Salem follows New Hampshire state drone rules, which require a valid FAA Part 107 certificate for commercial operations and do not add a separate state license. Rockingham County has no blanket commercial drone ordinance, but the town of Salem administers takeoff and landing permits for its municipal lots and recreation areas. State-managed land around Millers Pond and the Squamscott River requires a permit from New Hampshire state agencies. New Hampshire state parks and conservation areas run through the NH Parks and Recreation Department. Commercial filming near town landmarks requires a town-issued permit. LAANC authorization is required for any flight inside the MHT Class C or PSM Class D rings.

Restricted Airspace

• Salem proper sits in Class E airspace. That is the good news. The two airports that matter both sit off to the northwest and south. MHT to the northwest runs a Class C core that reaches a meaningful way into the town, and PSM to the south runs Class D. If your site is in the northwest part of Salem, near the Route 101 corridor, you are likely inside the MHT Class C shelf. Then you need LAANC. If you are heading toward the Portsmouth harbor area, the PSM Class D takes over. Pull the sectional and you will see which shelf you are under before you book a slot.
• Pease International Tradeport is a working military and commercial port. The base runs regular helicopter and fixed-wing traffic, and the harbor handles commercial and recreation boating. A low pass over the harbor or near the airfield perimeter is where conflicts happen. Hold a moving picture of the airspace and be ready to abort if you see one rotor in the corridor.
• Rockingham County and the state manage a handful of protected areas around the Squamscott River and Millers Pond. Commercial takeoff and landing on state-managed land requires a New Hampshire permit through the state Parks and Recreation or the Department of Environmental Services, depending on the parcel. The town of Salem has its own lot permit process for taking off on municipal land.
• New Hampshire has one of the friendlier regulatory environments in the Northeast for commercial drone work. There is no separate state drone license on top of the FAA Part 107 certificate. What trips people up is the park and water permitting, not the airspace itself. Most Salem surveys are legally straightforward once you sort out the MHT and PSM boundaries, and the lot-permit question for your takeoff point.
• The Route 128 corridor from Concord to Nashua runs through the Salem area and is a common site for utility and solar work. That corridor sits in Class E, so routine flights work fine, but expect other operators in the same band of airspace on weekday afternoons. Time your launch for a window and hold a visual.