Drone Inspection in Jackson, MI

Airports & LAANC Zones

• JXN — Jackson County Reynolds Field Airport (Class D airspace, located approximately 4 NM west of downtown Jackson, handles general aviation and corporate traffic for the Jackson County area)
• ARB — Ann Arbor Municipal Airport (Class D airspace, approximately 30 NM east in Washtenaw County, handles GA and corporate traffic for the Ann Arbor area)
• BTL — W.K. Kellogg Airport (Class D airspace, approximately 35 NM southwest in Battle Creek, handles GA, corporate, and military traffic including the Air National Guard)

Restricted Airspace

• Jackson is under Class D airspace centered on Jackson County Reynolds Field Airport (JXN), located approximately 4 NM west of downtown. The Class D surface area extends approximately 4.5 NM radius from JXN up to 3,000 feet AGL. The Class D airspace covers much of the western and central parts of Jackson. Commercial drone operators need LAANC authorization for flights within the Class D surface area. Operators should check the FAA B4UFLY app for specific boundaries.
• The I-94 and US-127 highway corridors are major infrastructure assets. MDOT South Region manages state highway infrastructure in the area. The I-94 corridor connects Jackson to Ann Arbor and Detroit, and the US-127 corridor connects Jackson to Lansing. The West Avenue and Michigan Avenue corridors have ongoing commercial and residential development. The Jackson County Road Commission has an active construction and infrastructure inspection program.
• Jackson is home to the Henry Ford Allegiance Health hospital campus, the Jackson State Prison complex, and the Ella Sharp Park system. The hospital campus has medical facility and privacy considerations. The Michigan Department of Corrections operates the Jackson State Prison complex, which is a major correctional facility with enhanced security considerations for drone operations. The Ella Sharp Park and the Falling Waters Trail have recreational considerations.
• The Grand River corridor and the Kalamazoo River headwaters have environmental monitoring considerations. The Grand River flows through the eastern part of Jackson and has ongoing environmental monitoring demand. The Lime Lake and Vandercook Lake areas have residential and recreational considerations. Operations near the river corridor should coordinate with the Michigan EGLE and the Jackson County Drain Commissioner.
• The Jackson downtown commercial district along Michigan Avenue has dense retail and residential development. The downtown streetscape reconstruction project includes full street reconstruction, new street lighting, rebuilt sidewalks, and infrastructure upgrades. The City of Jackson has partnered with MSHDA on new construction programs. Operations near the downtown area should coordinate with the Jackson Downtown Development Authority.

Local Ordinances

Jackson 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 Jackson requires a business license for commercial drone operators. Drone takeoff and landing in city parks requires coordination with the Jackson Parks and Recreation Department, including Ella Sharp Park, Loomis Park, and the Falling Waters Trail system. Operations near the Jackson State Prison complex require coordination with the Michigan Department of Corrections. Operations near Jackson County Reynolds Field Airport (JXN) Class D airspace require LAANC authorization. Commercial operators should carry minimum $1M liability insurance for aerial imaging projects.