New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced new city regulations outlining procedures and guidelines for the operation of unmanned aircraft. According to Adams, the new rules aim to broaden the use of drones to assist residents’ daily lives, including inspections and maintenance of critical infrastructure.
The regulations require individuals and entities to apply for a permit to legally take off or land a drone in New York City. Applicants must also comply with applicable local, state, and federal regulations and obtain authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Permits will be issued for locations temporarily designated as take-off or landing sites by the city’s transportation department. The New York Police Department will administer the permitting process.
To maintain safety and privacy, permittees of unmanned aircraft must inform the NYPD of accidents and crashes during operation, take-off, or landing. Additionally, users must notify the New York City Cyber Command of any cybersecurity incidents. Permittees must also alert relevant community boards of any video, audio, or photos they intend to capture with the devices.
Newly permitted drone flights will add to existing unmanned aircraft services performed by New York City’s police and fire departments. For instance, drones were used to assess conditions and conduct searches during a garage collapse in Lower Manhattan, a situation unsafe for agency personnel.
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