Construction Monitoring in Jonesboro, AR

Airports & LAANC Zones

• JBR — Jonesboro Municipal Airport (Class E airspace, within city limits)
• BPK — Walnut Ridge Regional Airport (Class E airspace, approximately 20 NM north)
• HGR — Stuttgart Municipal Airport (Class E airspace, approximately 45 NM south)
• MEM — Memphis International Airport (Class B airspace, approximately 70 NM east)

Restricted Airspace

• Jonesboro Municipal Airport (JBR) is an active general aviation airport within city limits. While it does not have controlled Class D airspace, drone operators must notify the airport manager before flying within 5 nautical miles. JBR sees corporate jet traffic serving Arkansas State University and regional industry, with active traffic patterns along the runway alignment.
• Memphis International Airport (MEM) Class B airspace extends up to 10,000 feet MSL within approximately 15 NM of the airport center. The outer shelf of the MEM Class B reaches into eastern Arkansas, though it does not extend to Craighead County. However, transient IFR traffic on approach to MEM can pass through the region at lower altitudes. Check NOTAMs before flying.
• Camp Robinson in North Little Rock (approximately 110 NM southwest) has restricted military airspace that does not affect Jonesboro. However, Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith (approximately 180 NM west) and the Arkansas Air National Guard flying mission at Little Rock can generate TFRs that occasionally cover broad sections of the state during training operations.
• St. Francis National Forest and the LAnguille River corridor to the south are federally managed or environmentally sensitive areas. Commercial drone takeoff and landing on US Forest Service property requires a special use permit. The Cache River National Wildlife Refuge (approximately 25 NM south) is a critical habitat area where low-altitude drone operations may disturb migratory waterfowl — coordinate with the US Fish and Wildlife Service before operating in the refuge approach corridors.
• Arkansas State University campus and Centennial Bank Stadium (home of A-State Red Wolves football) are high-traffic public gathering areas. FAA Part 107 prohibits flying directly over non-participants. Game-day TFRs may be issued for major events at the stadium. The university research farm and agricultural facilities on the east side of campus have ongoing field trials where drone operations may require coordination with the ASU Division of Agriculture.

Local Ordinances

Jonesboro operates under Arkansas state drone law (Act 819 of 2019), with local authority limited by Ark. Code Ann. § 14-361-120, which preempts municipalities from regulating drone flight paths and navigable airspace. The City of Jonesboro may require permits for commercial drone takeoff and landing on city-owned property, including Craighead Forest Park, Joe Mack Campbell Park, and the A-State sports complex. Jonesboro Municipal Airport (JBR) requires drone operators to coordinate with the airport manager for any flights within 5 nautical miles, as the airport handles corporate and charter traffic for the university and regional industries. The Jonesboro Metropolitan Area Planning Organization coordinates with developers on major site plans along the Highland Drive and Caraway Road corridors, where aerial imaging documentation is increasingly required for commercial and residential subdivision approvals. Commercial drone operations near the St. Bernard Hospital and NEA Baptist Medical Center campuses require awareness of medical helicopter flight paths — these facilities receive air ambulance traffic and operators should avoid the approach and departure corridors.