Multiple instances of drones being reported near Arkansas airports point to a scary problem.
Drone activity is being reported by residents and officials alike near Arkansas airports. Although Arkansas law targets foreign drones flying in airspace, it doesn’t say anything about local drones that potentially put airplanes at risk. It’s been reported near Fort Smith around airports. Also in Mountain View, Arkansas near the airport.
Mountain View Airport Officials Respond
It was recently reported by a local news outlet in Mountain View, Arkansas that airport officials had noticed an uptick in drone sightings near the local airport.
The airport manager has reportedly received reports of drones flying over the airport and near the runways. He said he is concerned that a drone could be sucked into an aircraft engine or collide with an aircraft, causing damage or injury.
As a result, they are asking drone operators to be careful and adhere to FAA guidelines.
Unfortunately, this is becoming a pattern around airports in Arkansas. It’s not just happening in Mountain View either.
“Multiple” Drones Spotted In Fort Smith
Arkansas resident and self-proclaimed “Army Wife” Constance Smith, who has a popular YouTube cooking following, says she and her family saw drones flying near the airport in Fort Smith, Arkansas:
“It was almost dark. It was late. The light was not great. But my adult son, who lives here in Arkansas, was outside with me. And we could hear this low hum sound.”
That’s when they reportedly saw multiple drones flying in the sky. Unfortunately, Smith didn’t capture pictures of the incident because she didn’t think it was newsworthy enough at the time.
She says they shrugged off the incident:
“We just kind of dismissed it as, ‘Well, I guess they’re doing training out on Fort Chaffee.’ A lot of times when they’re doing training they don’t just stay over Fort Chaffee. They go all over the region. In Fort Smith, there is also an airport, and there is a national guard base.”
FAA Rules For Drones And Airports
Flying hobby drones near airports is restricted; you must not fly within 5 miles without permission. You can read FAA Drone Rules here.
To fly, get airspace authorization through LAANC or FAA’s DroneZone for safety and compliance.
Always keep your drone in visual line-of-sight and yield to manned aircraft near airports.