Drone Inspection in Hot Springs, AR

Airports & LAANC Zones

• HOT — Memorial Field Airport (Class D airspace, within city limits — commercial and general aviation)
• RKR — Hot Springs Municipal Airport/Richard L. Russell Field (Class E airspace, approximately 8 NM southeast — general aviation)
• LIT — Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (Class C airspace, approximately 55 NM east in Little Rock — commercial hub)
• FYV — Drake Field Airport (Class E airspace, approximately 70 NM north in Fayetteville — general aviation)

Restricted Airspace

• Memorial Field Airport (HOT) Class D airspace extends to 4 nautical miles from the airport surface up to 3,000 feet MSL. Commercial drone operations within this radius require LAANC authorization via the FAA B4UFLY app or approved LAANC providers (Aloft, AirMap). The Class D covers the central and eastern portions of Hot Springs near the airport along Highway 5 and Highway 7.
• Hot Springs National Park is the smallest and oldest national park in the US National Park system, encompassing over 5,500 acres within and adjacent to the city. The National Park Service prohibits commercial drone operations within national park boundaries without a special use permit issued by the park superintendent. This includes Bathhouse Row, Hot Springs Mountain, North Mountain, West Mountain, and the surrounding parklands that encircle much of the city. The park boundary creates a significant restricted zone for drone operations in the central city area.
• Lake Ouachita, Lake Hamilton, and Lake Catherine are US Army Corps of Engineers impoundments surrounding Hot Springs. Commercial drone takeoff and landing on Corps of Engineers property requires a special use permit. The lakes create extensive shoreline data collection considerations for environmental monitoring and shoreline erosion assessment work. The Ouachita River corridor below the dams has additional flood control infrastructure.
• Hot Springs Village, a 26,000-acre gated community approximately 15 NM north in Saline County, has its own airspace considerations. The community has two golf courses, lakes, and extensive residential development. Commercial drone operations require property owner authorization and coordination with the Hot Springs Village Property Owners Association for any work within the gated perimeter.
• The Ouachita National Forest borders Hot Springs to the west and south. The US Forest Service manages over 1.8 million acres across Arkansas and Oklahoma. Commercial drone operations on national forest land may require a special use permit from the Ouachita National Forest supervisor office, especially for commercial photography, aerial imaging, or research activities on forest service roads and recreation areas.

Local Ordinances

Hot 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 of Hot Springs may require permits for commercial drone takeoff and landing on city-owned property, including parks and public facilities. Hot Springs Parks and Recreation manages Hot Springs Greenway Trail, Whittington Park, and the Hot Springs Sports Complex, where commercial drone operations require prior authorization. Memorial Field Airport (HOT) Class D airspace LAANC authorization is mandatory for commercial operations in the central and eastern portions of the city. Hot Springs National Park, managed by the National Park Service, prohibits commercial drone operations without a special use permit from the park superintendent. The park boundary encompasses much of the central city area including Hot Springs Mountain and Bathhouse Row, creating one of the most restrictive airspace environments of any city in Arkansas. The Hot Springs Planning and Development Department requires aerial imaging documentation for major development site plans submitted under the city development code. US Army Corps of Engineers permits are required for commercial drone takeoff and landing on federal property around Lakes Ouachita, Hamilton, and Catherine.