2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Suffolk County, New York.
Verified from official government sources
Recreational drone operation in Suffolk County is strictly limited by FAA airspace. Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) is Class C airspace extending to 4,400 ft in a 5 NM core with 10 NM shelf. Francis S. Gabreski Airport (FOK) and East Hampton (HTO) impose further restrictions. LAANC authorization required in controlled airspace.
FAA LAANC - UAS Data Exchange / Recreational Flyer Requirements
LAANC is the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability, a collaboration between FAA and Industry. It directly supports UAS integration into the airspace. LAANC provides: Drone pilots with access to controlled airspace at or below 400 feet. Awareness of where pilots can and cannot fly. Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) information and updates to the Special Use Airspace (SUA) sche...
Commercial drone operators in Suffolk County must hold FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and obtain LAANC authorization for all Class C (ISP) and Class D (Gabreski, East Hampton) airspace. Real estate, construction, and event operators also need county park permits and may need beach permits from individual towns.
FAA 14 CFR Part 107 - Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
The Operations Over People rule became effective on April 21, 2021. Drone pilots operating under Part 107 may fly at night, over people and moving vehicles without a waiver as long as they meet the requirements defined in the rule. Airspace authorizations are still required for night operations in controlled airspace under 400 feet. If you have a small drone that is less than 55 pounds, you can...
3 cities in Suffolk County have their own drone rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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