Aerial Imagery in Taylor, MI

Airports & LAANC Zones

• DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (Class C airspace, approximately 5 NM south in Romulus, major international commercial airport with over 30 million annual passengers. Taylor is directly north of DTW approach and departure corridors)
• YIP — Willow Run Airport (Class D airspace, approximately 8 NM west in Ypsilanti, major cargo and GA facility handling freight and general aviation)
• DET — Coleman A. Young International Airport (formerly Detroit City Airport, Class D airspace, approximately 8 NM northeast in Detroit, handles general aviation and limited cargo)

Restricted Airspace

• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) Class C airspace is the primary airspace consideration for Taylor. DTW is approximately 5 miles south in Romulus. DTW Class C extends from the surface up to 4,000 feet MSL in the inner core and from the surface to 2,500 feet in the outer area. Taylor is directly north of DTW and southern portions of the city fall within the DTW Class C outer area. LAANC authorization is required for operations in the Class C area. The DTW approach and departure corridors pass over Taylor, making altitude coordination critical for commercial drone operators.
• Willow Run Airport (YIP) Class D airspace is approximately 8 miles west of Taylor in Ypsilanti. YIP handles significant cargo operations and general aviation. Western Taylor operations near the I-94 and Eureka Road corridor may approach YIP Class D boundaries. LAANC authorization is available for the YIP Class D area.
• Coleman A. Young International Airport (DET) Class D airspace is approximately 8 miles northeast of Taylor in Detroit. DET handles general aviation and limited cargo. The DET Class D may affect operations in northeastern Taylor near the I-94 and Southfield Freeway interchange. LAANC authorization is available for the DET Class D area.
• The I-94 corridor through Taylor is a major MDOT infrastructure inspection zone. The I-94 bridges over Telegraph Road, Eureka Road, and Northline Road require periodic inspection. MDOT has an active drone inspection program for bridge and highway infrastructure. The Telegraph Road corridor is one of the busiest commercial corridors in the Downriver area.
• Taylor is home to several major facilities with enhanced security considerations including the Beaumont Hospital Taylor campus, the Ford Motor Company Taylor transmission and component facility, and industrial facilities along the I-94 and Northline Road corridors. The Wayne County Community College Downriver campus and the Taylor Sportsplex are also significant facilities requiring coordination for commercial drone operations.

Local Ordinances

Taylor 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 Taylor requires a business license for commercial drone operators. Drone takeoff and landing in city parks requires coordination with the Taylor Parks and Recreation Department, including Heritage Park, P/A Park, and the Taylor Sportsplex. Operations near DTW Class C airspace require LAANC authorization. Taylor is directly in the DTW approach corridor, making airspace coordination especially important. Commercial operators should carry minimum $1M liability insurance for aerial imaging projects.