Drone Training in New York, From the Five Boroughs to the Finger Lakes
On-site instruction from FAA Certified Flight Instructors, scheduled seven days a week at your location anywhere in the state.
Request Training · Call 1.818.255.0406
Few states ask more of a drone pilot than New York. Downstate, you are operating beneath some of the busiest airspace in the world, surrounded by tall structures, heliports and strict city rules. Upstate, you may be mapping farmland, inspecting a bridge over the Mohawk or documenting snow-load damage in Buffalo in January. Since 2014, Drone Universities has trained pilots to handle that range, and we deliver every course at your location.
Our FAA Certified Flight Instructors travel to individuals, agencies and companies across New York, with one-on-one and group sessions available every day of the week.
Drone Universities Courses
5.00 (20K+ Joined)
FAA Part 107 Training
Prepare yourself for the FAA Part 107 Knowledge Test. Learn to fly, how to understand industry-standard flight systems, and most importantly, safe and legal flying practices. If you do not pass the FAA Part 107 exam after completing our training, we will either refund your training fee or retrain you at no additional cost.
DJI Mini 4K included!
Duration
$2,500
4.79 (5.4K Joined)
Advanced Aerial Inspections and Cinematography
This one-day course teaches you advanced aerial photography and videography. All classes are taught by working professionals. Learn what it takes to get great shots for clients like Discovery Channel and National Geographic.
Duration
$1,000
4.96 (2.6K Joined)
This one-day course teaches you all about GIS. You will learn everything you need to successfully collect usable data on your flights. We’ll guide you through planning and flying successful operations, programing flight patterns.
Duration
$1,000
4.87 (1.6K+ Joined)
Drones in Agriculture
Join Drone Universities’ one-day Drones in Agriculture course. Learn precision flights, multispectral imaging, and field methodology to boost crop yield. Sign up now!
Duration
$1,000
4.82 (2.6K Joined)
Drones for Public Safety and Transportation
Learn to use drones for infrastructure inspection and planning. Our one-day course improves public safety and transportation by saving time, money, and resources.
Duration
$1,000
Why Train with Drone Universities in New York
Airspace-first instruction
Downstate operations depend on reading charts, authorizations and local restrictions correctly. We make that a central part of every session, not an afterthought.
Four-season flying
New York weather varies widely. We cover cold-weather battery care, lake-effect snow and wind, icing risk and planning around short winter daylight.
Training where you work
Learning on your own rooftop, campus, farm or job site builds procedures you can repeat the next day.
Flexible group sizes
We train a single pilot, a photography studio, a county emergency services team or an entire engineering department.
Straightforward booking
Request training, confirm the details with us and receive an enrollment link by email. No payment is taken on the website.
New York Airspace and Drone Laws
- New York City Class B airspace. John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia and nearby Newark Liberty are primary airports of the New York Class B airspace that covers most of the five boroughs. Part 107 flights there need FAA authorization, and near the airports the approved altitudes can be very low.
- Hudson and East River corridors. The Hudson River and East River Exclusion Special Flight Rules Area carries low-level helicopter and light-aircraft traffic beneath the Class B. Its rules apply to any aircraft operating in that airspace. Heliports, including West 30th Street, Downtown Manhattan and East 34th Street, add to the activity, so see-and-avoid skills are essential.
- New York City launch and landing rules. NYC Administrative Code Section 10-126(c) prohibits aircraft from taking off or landing in the city, except in an emergency, other than at places designated by the Department of Transportation or the Port Authority. Since 2023, NYPD rules (38 RCNY Chapter 24) let Part 107 pilots apply for a takeoff and landing permit at a site the Department of Transportation temporarily designates:
- Timing. Apply at least 30 days in advance.
- Camera flights. If the flight will capture images, video or audio, you must notify the affected community boards and post notices near the site.
- Other permits. Other city permits, such as from NYC Parks or the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, may also be required.
- Model aircraft fields. NYC Parks’ designated model aircraft fields, located in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, do not require the NYPD permit.
- Upstate airports. Albany International, Buffalo Niagara International, Greater Rochester International, Syracuse Hancock International and Long Island MacArthur are each surrounded by Class C airspace.
- State parks. New York State Parks requires written approval before a drone is launched, landed or operated on its property.
- State law. As of August 25, 2026, New York’s Penal Law Article 280 creates the crime of unlawful use of a drone, with escalating penalties for repeat offenses. The law defines “prohibited spaces,” which cover the area within 500 feet of, and up to 400 feet above:
- airports and military installations
- correctional facilities
- police stations, fire stations and emergency dispatch centers
- events with 500 or more people
- critical infrastructure and schools
The same law authorizes police officers to take measures against drones that pose a credible threat. Read the statute’s applicability provisions carefully before operating near these locations.
This page is general guidance, not legal advice. Confirm current FAA, state and local requirements before flying.
Cities We Serve in New York
New York City
Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island
Long Island
Nassau and Suffolk counties
Westchester and the Hudson Valley
Yonkers, White Plains, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh
Albany and the Capital Region
state agencies, Schenectady, Troy, Saratoga Springs
Buffalo and Niagara Falls
infrastructure, manufacturing and public safety
Rochester
technology, imaging and higher education
Syracuse
engineering, utilities and central New York agencies
Ithaca, Binghamton, Utica and the Finger Lakes
agriculture, universities and rural services
If your community is not listed, contact us and we will travel to you. Request a course location »
Who We Train in New York
- Fire departments. Career and volunteer departments use drones for structure-fire overwatch, water rescue on lakes and rivers, and hazardous materials assessment. We train crews to operate safely around active scenes and responding aircraft.
- Police departments and sheriff’s offices. Training covers search and rescue in woods and waterways, crash reconstruction, scene documentation and policy-conscious operating procedures.
- Government agencies. State, county and municipal teams use drones for bridge and facility inspection, flood and storm assessment, and land records.
- Businesses. Real estate marketers, engineering and inspection firms, utilities, insurers, upstate farms and vineyards, and film and television production teams all rely on trained pilots.
- Individuals. Aspiring commercial pilots, photographers and students preparing for the Part 107 Knowledge Test.
How On-Site Training Works
- Tell us about your needs. Submit a training request, call 1.818.255.0406 or email info@droneuniversities.com with your location, group size and goals.
- We plan around your location. Your instructor reviews the airspace and any local restrictions at your site and confirms a suitable flight area, which in dense urban areas may be a nearby permitted location.
- Receive your enrollment link. We email you a link to enroll and confirm your booking.
- Train on site. Your FAA Certified Flight Instructor delivers ground instruction and hands-on flight practice at your location.
- Apply it immediately. Your team leaves with checklists and procedures tailored to New York operations.
Bring Professional Drone Training to Your New York Location
From a Manhattan production team to an upstate county agency, we come to you, seven days a week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly a drone in New York City?
Yes, with planning. You need FAA authorization for controlled airspace. Outside the designated model aircraft fields, you also need an NYPD takeoff and landing permit, which Part 107 pilots can apply for at least 30 days ahead. We explain the full process in training.
Where can I take the Part 107 test in New York?
The test is given at FAA-approved Knowledge Testing Centers operated through PSI. New York has locations in New York City, on Long Island, in the Hudson Valley and upstate, including Rochester, Ithaca and Rome. Check current options and book through PSI’s FAA testing portal.
Do I need a license to fly a drone for real estate photos?
Yes. Real estate photography is a commercial operation and requires an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107.
Can you train our volunteer fire department?
Yes. We train career and volunteer departments, police agencies and government teams at their own facilities, individually or in groups.
Do you train in winter?
Yes, conditions permitting. Cold-weather operations are part of flying in New York, and we cover them in training. If weather makes flying unsafe, we work with you to reschedule flight portions.
How do I book a course?
Request training online, by phone or by email. Once details are confirmed, you receive an enrollment link by email.
