Drone Inspection in Heber Springs, AR

Airports & LAANC Zones

• KHBR — Heber Springs Municipal Airport (Class E airspace, non-towered general aviation airport approximately 3 NM north of downtown Heber Springs, CTAF 122.9)
• KLIT — Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (Class C airspace, approximately 60 NM south in Little Rock, major commercial hub, LAANC available)
• KCAO — Conway Municipal Airport (Class E airspace, approximately 40 NM south in Conway, non-towered general aviation)
• KBPK — Batesville Regional Airport (Class E airspace, approximately 45 NM northeast in Batesville, non-towered general aviation)

Restricted Airspace

• Heber Springs Municipal Airport (KHBR) is a non-towered general aviation airport approximately 3 NM north of downtown Heber Springs. The airport operates under Class E airspace rules with no control tower. Drone operators within 5 nautical miles must notify the airport manager before flying under FAA Part 107.43. KHBR has a single runway (Runway 4/22), so avoid the extended runway centerline when conducting low-altitude data collection projects. Monitor CTAF 122.9 for self-announced traffic.
• Greers Ferry Lake is a US Army Corps of Engineers reservoir spanning over 40,000 acres in Cleburne County. Drone takeoff and landing on federal property managed by the Corps of Engineers requires a special use permit. The Greers Ferry Dam and hydroelectric facilities have security exclusion zones, and low-altitude flights over these facilities may trigger security concerns. The Corps manages multiple recreation areas, campgrounds, and marinas around the lake, each requiring coordination for commercial drone operations. Contact the Corps of Engineers Greers Ferry Project Office for data collection projects near dam infrastructure, spillways, or federal recreation areas.
• The Ozark National Forest borders Cleburne 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. Avoid low-altitude flights over wilderness visitors, hikers, and campers to comply with Arkansas Act 819 of 2019 privacy provisions. The Sylamore Ranger District office can provide guidance on commercial filming permits for Forest Service lands.
• Little Rock Air Force Base (KLRF) is approximately 60 NM south of Heber Springs in Jacksonville. While the base Class C airspace does not extend to Cleburne County, military training routes (MTRs) cross through the Ozark foothills region. Low-level military aircraft operations may occur along these routes, particularly in the river valleys. Check the FAA B4UFLY app for active TFRs and NOTAMs before flying, especially during military training exercises. The MTRs are charted on sectional maps and can affect drone mission planning at higher altitudes.
• Greers Ferry Lake and the Little Red River below the dam are popular recreational areas with marinas, resorts, and private homes along the shoreline. Privacy expectations under Arkansas Act 819 of 2019 apply to drone flights over private lake homes, boat docks, and recreation areas. Commercial drone operators should obtain property owner consent before conducting aerial photography or inspection of lakefront properties. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission manages wildlife management areas near the lake that may have additional restrictions on drone operations during hunting seasons.

Local Ordinances

Heber Springs 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 Heber Springs Parks and Recreation Department for city parks and the Heber Springs Airport Commission for Heber Springs Municipal Airport property. Cleburne County requires aerial imaging documentation for major subdivision and site plan submissions in the unincorporated portions of the county. The Heber Springs Planning Commission oversees residential and commercial development approvals along Highway 25 and the Greers Ferry Lake shoreline, and accepts drone-generated orthomosaic maps and topographic data collection for site plan submissions. The US Army Corps of Engineers Greers Ferry Project Office requires special use permits for commercial drone takeoff and landing on federal property surrounding Greers Ferry Lake, including dam infrastructure, recreation areas, and campgrounds. The Heber Springs Chamber of Commerce coordinates with local resorts and marina operators for commercial photography and marketing drone flights over lakefront properties.