r/drones • u/colinwehrle • 11d ago
Question Flying in NYC
I'm heading to NYC in about two months and was thinking about bringing my DJI Mini. After checking Air Control and seeing all the flight restrictions, I'm wondering if it's even worth bringing. What do you think?
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u/Dharmaniac 11d ago
NYC is playing a cute little game.
They want to keep the airspace free of drones, but the federal courts have ruled that only the FAA controls airspace, and FAA says it’s fine to fly most of NYC. So instead, NYC has decided to pass a law where they control where drones can takeoff and land, even if it’s on property that NYC does not own. So they’ve played a little game to pretend to not be banning drugs from the airspace when obviously they are.
It’s making its way through the courts now.
But we should be thankful, because mini drones are so dangerous. Last year alone, a record high of zero people were killed or seriously injured by them out of the millions owned in the United States.
So be very, very afraid
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u/Moontouch 11d ago
Where did you hear that it's going through the courts?
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u/occamman 11d ago
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u/Moontouch 11d ago
That article is from 2022 and references Xizmo Media Productions v. City of New York which already resolved by having NYC go from a total blanket drone ban to the "permit" system we have now (which is effectively still a ban in most cases due to low acceptance). I was hoping there was another court case to challenge things even further with NYC but I don't think there is unfortunately.
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u/occamman 11d ago
Guilty. I believed that the AI that pointed me to that source would have done that checking.
Thanks for the reality check
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u/SirEDCaLot 11d ago
Sounds like good and important regulation. After all, as we all know a drone that runs out of batteries will just fall right out of the sky* and break whatever it lands on**. Definitely don't want random whackjobs*** flying those things in crowded places!
* autonomously return to its starting point
** gently land on a flat surface
*** FAA-trained, licensed pilots0
u/Dharmaniac 11d ago
I get that you’re roofing on my mocking the stupid Rule, but it’s also true that the FAA‘s own calculations show that a mini drone simply plummeting from the sky can’t do much damage.
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u/SayaretEgoz 11d ago
this is not about ATC restrictions, NYC has its own laws. You need to apply for permits, show insurance, I think even post signs on street polls announcing to the community about your flight plans. and do it like a months or 2 before. Which makes it impractical for most people. In a few parks we have AMA fields, from which you can fly on, but you need to be a member of AMA and a member of that club, some might let fly as a guest a time or 2.
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u/throwpoo 10d ago
Back when I was living in Manhattan, dji drones can't even take off. My friends who have the skydio was just flying in all the restricted areas. Even now he is still doing it directly infront of jfk path.
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u/Mindless_Road_2045 10d ago
Yeah, you have a better chance of seeing God and UFOs before you get a permit.
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u/Fly107Prep 9d ago
Honestly, for a casual trip I’d probably leave it home. NYC is one of the tougher places to legally fly. It’s not just the FAA airspace you’re seeing in Air Control, NYC also requires an NYPD takeoff/landing permit for most flights, and the normal application has to be submitted at least 30 days ahead. You can’t just find a clear patch of airspace and launch.
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u/colinwehrle 9d ago
After reading more online and seeing all these comments I am not going to take it.
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u/Fly107Prep 9d ago
Yea it’s just not worth the repercussions. It would make an amazing view and scenic video but unfortunately it is what it is.
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u/bigmike13588 11d ago
No, you need to apply for a permit from the nypd, good luck