What clients need to know about the NYPD Drone Permit
Are you thinking about capturing breathtaking aerial footage in the vibrant heart of New York City? Given the recent regulatory updates in July 2023, you might be seeking guidance on conducting a lawful drone video shoot in the Big Apple. This article will guide you through the steps to obtain the latest drone permit issued by the New York City Police Department (NYPD), accompanied by valuable tips to enhance your success in this endeavor.
The basics:
1. Drone Permit Requirement:
Before you can legally fly a drone in NYC, you would need to obtain a permit from the NYPD.
2. No-Fly Zones:
New York City is home to several no-fly zones, which are off-limits for drone operation. These include areas around airports, government buildings, critical infrastructure and TFR’s (Temporary Flight Restrictions).
3. Altitude Restrictions:
Drones in NYC are limited to flying below 400 feet above ground level (AGL), in line with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines or at most keep within a 400 feet vertical and horizontal distance from the highest points of a tower, structure, or building. This restriction helps prevent collision with manned aircraft, as manned aircraft need to keep further separation between obstacles.
4. Keep Drones in Line of Sight:
When flying a drone in NYC, it must remain within the pilot's line of sight at all times. This rule ensures that operators can react to any unforeseen obstacles or issues promptly.
5. Restrictions on Flying Over People:
For safety reasons, drones are not permitted to fly over people in New York City. This regulation is in line with the principle of minimizing risks in densely populated areas. If you shoot requires you to do so, or requires you to redirect human foot traffic, you need to first obtain the waiver from the FAA.
Timeline:
The drone permit has to be submitted at least 30 days in advance. It takes about 2-3 weeks to approve and the application process can take upwards of 2 weeks. When approved, the drone permit will be sent to the applicant (Sky Tech One) about 24-48 hours before the shoot, and not sooner. We encourage you to submit the application more than 30 days in advance, therefore ensuring there is still ample time to get approved in case any supplement documentation or clarification is needed.
Documents:
What we provide:
Valid COI - Certificate of Insurance with 2M General Liability and 4M Aggregate for this project.
Flight path - visual diagram of flight on a map. The description of the flight path is a detailed paragraph on what movements the drone will be taking and what will be done to ensure the safety of people and property in the area.
Data Privacy Policy - Outlines data collection and processing methods, detailing data retention and deletion practices.
Cybersecurity Policy - Data protection, physical security, risk assessment, incident response, encryption, and privacy
Community notice - Notice informing the neighborhood of the planned shoot, to be posted around the launch site.
What we need from you:
Logistics:
Date and time of the shoot including up to a maximum of 4 alternate dates. This allows for flexibility in scheduling and gives you a safety date if there is any inclement weather or pilot unavailability. Dates have to be 30 days in advance in order to be considered. See timeline above.
Exact location of the shoot - the area that the drone will be flying in
The highest altitude the drone will be flying to - this is required in order to prove that the flight is adhering to airspace regulations and safety protocols
The project details: How will the drone be used? Will it be used to record images, as a transportation vehicle, or for inspection purposes? This step also asks whether the operation is taking place near an NYC park, requires a street closure, or a Part 107 (FAA Drone) waiver.
Letter of Authorization: A letter of authority gives us permission to fly on the property and signed by the owner or site management. The letter should be signed, on official letterhead and in pdf format. Please make sure that the permission is valid for all possible dates that the flight could take place on. It is always better to specify multiple weeks or a month, in case the approval gets delayed or the dates change.
Payment: The application costs $150 plus a $3 service charge. Sky Tech One offers the service for filling out, writing, and submitting the application, for a $197 fee. The total fee is $350 which is non-refundable and does not guarantee approval.
Generally speaking, if the flights are safe and the drone isn’t flown over people, the NYPD should approve the flight and issue the permit. They will come back and respond to certain issues, which will delay the process, so leave ample time for back and forth. If you are thinking of drone videography or photography in NYC and may require a permit, please fill out the form below.