Research Paper / Study

2 | Arkansas

January 14, 2021
Authors: 
Brent Skorup
Connor Haaland
  • Airspace Lease Law: 30/30
  • Law Vesting Air Rights with Landowners: 10/10
  • Avigation Easement Law: 25/25
  • Drone Task Force or Program Office: 0/20
  • Drone Jobs Estimate: 4/15

Factors Helping the State Score

  • Airspace Lease Law: Arkansas law allows state and local authorities to lease low-altitude airspace above state roads and local roads. Such a law allows state and local authorities to create drone highways above state and local roadways.
  • Law Vesting Air Rights with Landowners: Arkansas law expressly provides air rights to landowners, which reduces litigation risk for drone operators because landowners know the extent of their property rights.
  • Avigation Easement Law: Arkansas law creates an avigation easement, which means drone operators are protected from nuisance and trespass laws as long as their drones do not disturb people on the ground.

Factors Hindering the State Score

  • Drone Task Force or Program Office: State leaders should consider convening a statewide drone task force or creating a drone program office within the transportation department.
  • Drone Jobs Estimate: Arkansas has 8.5 drone-related jobs per 100,000 people, ranking it in the bottom half of states.

These factors make Arkansas the 2nd most drone-friendly state in the country.


Source URL: https://www.mercatus.org/publications/technology-and-innovation/2-arkansas
https://www.mercatus.org