Commercial drone operators in Union County require FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Class B airspace makes commercial operations highly complex; LAANC or formal FAA airspace authorization required for any flight. EWR, Linden Municipal Airport, and Teterboro Airport (Bergen County, overlapping Mode C veil) all affect Union County operations. Commercial filming in Elizabeth, Westfield, and Cranford requires local permits in addition to FAA clearance. Port Authority of NY/NJ coordination required near Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal.
Commercial drone operations in Union County face the most complex airspace environment in the state due to EWR. Operators must hold FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (14 CFR Part 107), pass the Aeronautical Knowledge Test every 24 months, and obtain LAANC authorization or Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) for any flight in controlled airspace. The EWR Class B airspace covers most of eastern Union County; Linden Airport (LDJ) creates Class D airspace requiring tower coordination; and the Teterboro Airport Mode C veil extends over northern Union County. Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal (the East Coast's largest container port, partially in Elizabeth) is designated restricted FAA airspace requiring Port Authority coordination plus federal facility review for any operations. The Bayway Refinery complex in Linden/Elizabeth is similarly sensitive. Commercial real estate photography, construction progress filming, and utility inspection are common use cases, but operators must secure FAA waivers for operations over people (Part 107.39), beyond visual line of sight, or at night without Anti-Collision Lighting. Local municipal filming permits are typically required: Elizabeth Film Permits through City Clerk, Westfield Film Office, Cranford and Summit via municipal clerk. Union County Parks commercial use permits required for any park-based operation. NJ does not preempt local commercial drone regulation.
Operating commercially without Part 107: FAA fines up to $32,666 per flight. Unauthorized Class B operation near EWR: $27,500 civil plus criminal referral to U.S. Attorney. Port Authority restricted airspace violation: federal charges, equipment forfeiture. Local filming permit violations: $250 to $5,000 per occurrence.
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