University of Arkansas: Drones on campus are a safety and security threat

This week, the University of Arkansas announced that it would prohibit drones from flying over campus grounds, unless the flight is specifically approved by the provost and vice provost for research and economic development. If someone wants to fly a drone over an athletic venue, then that flight has to be approved by the vice chancellor and director of athletics.

In either case, the drone operator would have to show that they are in compliance with FAA requirements, as well as in compliance with any federal or state laws that may pertain to drone flight.

University Police Director Steve Gahagans cited safety and security as factors in the university's decision: “Drones and model aircraft can be useful, even fun, but are also potentially dangerous—if they malfunction they could injure anyone on the ground,” he said. “Beyond that there’s the potential that they could be intentionally used as weapons. And finally they could potentially be used to take video or still images that violate student or employee privacy.”

Gahagans admitted that these examples were extreme, but, he added, “The only real option for us is to restrict use in order to protect the people on our campus.”

The university is asking anyone who sees a drone over campus to report it to the police. Violators will be subject to criminal trespass warnings and possible arrest.

Other universities have moved to prohibit drones on their campuses, especially during sporting events. On a national level, the Federal Aviation Administration forbids drones from flying over stadiums considered “national defense airspace,” including many university stadiums. Last September, the FAA blocked plans for a small drone to deliver the game day football for a University of Michigan football game. Other locations have taken it upon themselves to prevent the presence of drones—Iowa City banned drones in 2013, and Yosemite National Park has tried to ban drones from its grounds as well.

But banning drones from airspace can only go so far. On a number of occasions, drone pilots have flown their aircraft into restricted airspace in Washington, DC, and drones flying over wildfires in California have created huge problems for manned aircraft.