Environmental Monitoring in Batesville, AR

Airports & LAANC Zones

• KBPK — Batesville Regional Airport (Class E airspace, non-towered general aviation airport within Independence County, approximately 5 NM south of the city center)
• KLRF — Little Rock Air Force Base (Class C airspace, approximately 85 NM south in Jacksonville, military operations area with TFR potential)
• KSRZ — Searcy Municipal Airport (Class E airspace, approximately 45 NM south in Searcy, non-towered general aviation)
• KJBR — Jonesboro Municipal Airport (Class D airspace, approximately 100 NM northeast in Jonesboro, LAANC available)

Restricted Airspace

• Batesville Regional Airport (KBPK) is a non-towered general aviation airport approximately 5 NM south of the city center. The airport has no control tower and operates under Class E airspace rules. Drone operators within 5 nautical miles must notify the airport manager before flying under FAA Part 107.43. The airport has two runways (Runway 6/24 and Runway 18/36), so avoid the extended runway centerlines when conducting low-altitude data collection projects. Monitor CTAF 122.8 for self-announced traffic.
• Little Rock Air Force Base (KLRF) is approximately 85 NM south of Batesville in Jacksonville. While the base Class C airspace does not extend to Batesville, military training routes (MTRs) and low-level military operations areas may affect drone operations along the White River corridor south of the city. Check the FAA B4UFLY app for active TFRs before flying, particularly during military training exercises.
• The White River flows through the center of Batesville, and the US Army Corps of Engineers manages lock and dam infrastructure along the river. Drone takeoff and landing on federal property managed by the Corps requires a special use permit. The Batesville Dam and hydroelectric facilities have security exclusion zones, and low-altitude flights over these facilities may trigger security concerns. Coordinate with the Corps of Engineers office for data collection projects near lock, dam, or flood control infrastructure.
• Lyon College is a private liberal arts institution in the city. While educational campuses are not FAA-restricted airspace, drone operations over campus property require coordination with the college administration. The college has athletic fields and outdoor event spaces where privacy expectations apply under Arkansas Act 819 of 2019. Avoid capturing images of students or staff without consent.
• The Ozark National Forest borders Independence County to the north and west. While National Forest land is generally open to drone flight under FAA Part 107, commercial drone takeoff and landing may require a special use permit from the US Forest Service. The forest contains wilderness areas where motorized activities are restricted, but drone flight is regulated by FAA rules, not wilderness motorized use rules. Avoid low-altitude flights over wilderness visitors and hikers to comply with privacy provisions.

Local Ordinances

Batesville operates under Arkansas state drone law (Act 819 of 2019) with local regulations limited by Ark. Code Ann. § 14-361-120, which preempts municipalities from regulating drone flight paths and navigable airspace. The city has no specific municipal drone ordinance beyond state law, but commercial drone takeoff and landing on city-owned property requires approval from the Batesville Parks and Recreation Department for city parks and the Batesville Airport Commission for Batesville Regional Airport property. Independence County requires aerial imaging documentation for major subdivision and site plan submissions in the unincorporated portions of the county. Batesville Regional Airport requires drone operators within 5 nautical miles to notify the airport manager per FAA Part 107 requirements. The Batesville Planning Department oversees construction site documentation and accepts drone-generated orthomosaic maps and topographic data collection for site plan submissions. White River Medical Center requires property management approval for any drone operations near the hospital campus due to medical helicopter flight paths.