Aerial Imaging Services in Russellville, AR

FAA Part 107 Requirements

All commercial drone operations in Arkansas require the pilot to hold an active FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Our network operators are verified Part 107 holders.

State Drone Laws

Arkansas regulates drones primarily through Act 819 of 2019 and Ark. Code Ann. § 5-60-130, which prohibits the use of unmanned aircraft to conduct surveillance of a person, place, or thing without consent when a reasonable expectation of privacy exists. The law creates a civil cause of action for persons subjected to unauthorized drone surveillance and restricts law enforcement drone use to require a warrant except in exigent circumstances, search and rescue, and wildfire response. Ark. Code Ann. § 14-361-120 preempts local municipalities from regulating drone flight paths, navigable airspace, or pilot qualifications, though cities may regulate takeoff and landing on public property they own. Arkansas does not require a separate state-level drone license for commercial operators, but all commercial pilots must hold a valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. The Arkansas Department of Aviation maintains UAS guidelines and encourages operators to coordinate with the state aviation director for operations near public-use airports. Arkansas state parks require a permit from the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism for commercial drone takeoff and landing. Operators near military installations (Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Camp Robinson in North Little Rock, Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville) must coordinate with base operations and check for active TFRs. The FAA controls all airspace above 400 feet AGL. Arkansas has no additional state drone registration requirement beyond FAA registration.

Local Ordinances

Russellville 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 Russellville Parks and Recreation Department for city parks and the Russellville Airport Commission for Russellville-Pope County Airport property. Pope County requires aerial imaging documentation for major subdivision and site plan submissions in the unincorporated portions of the county. Entergy Arkansas requires advance notification and coordination for any drone operations within the Arkansas Nuclear One property boundary or within 3 nautical miles of the facility for security and safety reasons. The Russellville Planning and Development Department oversees construction site documentation and accepts drone-generated orthomosaic maps and topographic data collection for site plan submissions. Arkansas Tech University requires campus administration approval for drone operations over university property, particularly near athletic facilities and student housing.

Restricted Airspace

• Arkansas Nuclear One (ANO) is a two-unit nuclear power plant operated by Entergy on the Arkansas River approximately 5 NM northwest of downtown Russellville. While there is no permanent TFR over ANO, the FAA has issued advisory NOTAMs regarding drone operations near nuclear facilities. Operators should check for active NOTAMs via the FAA B4UFLY app before flying within 3 nautical miles of the plant. Low-altitude flights over the facility and its cooling towers may trigger security responses from Entergy security personnel and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Coordinate with Entergy security before any commercial aerial imaging projects near the ANO property boundary.
• Russellville-Pope County Airport (KPKW) is a non-towered general aviation airport approximately 3 NM south of the city center. 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. The airport has a single runway (Runway 4/22), so avoid the extended runway centerline when conducting low-altitude data collection projects. Monitor CTAF 122.7 for self-announced traffic.
• Little Rock Air Force Base (KLRF) is approximately 60 NM southeast of Russellville in Jacksonville. While the base Class C airspace does not extend to the Russellville area, military training routes (MTRs) and low-level military operations areas may affect drone operations along the Arkansas River corridor. Check the FAA B4UFLY app for active TFRs before flying, particularly during military training exercises.
• Lake Dardanelle is a US Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Arkansas River adjacent to Russellville. Drone takeoff and landing on federal property managed by the Corps of Engineers requires a special use permit. The Dardanelle Lock and Dam infrastructure has security exclusion zones, and low-altitude flights over these facilities may trigger security concerns. Coordinate with the Corps of Engineers Russellville office for data collection projects near lock, dam, or flood control infrastructure.
• The Ozark National Forest borders Pope County to the south. 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 under Arkansas Act 819 of 2019.