Flushing Meadows Corona Park Model Aircraft Field

About the Flushing Meadows Model Aircraft Field

Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the fourth-largest park in New York City at approximately 897 acres, is home to one of the city's five designated model aircraft fields. The field is located near the Van Wyck Expressway by Meadow Lake, in the southern portion of the park. This is one of the most transit-accessible designated fields in NYC.

The park is perhaps best known as the site of the 1939 and 1964 World's Fairs, and is home to the Unisphere, Citi Field (New York Mets), and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Location and Access

• Location: Near the Van Wyck Expressway by Meadow Lake, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
• Public transit: The 7 train to Mets-Willets Point station provides direct access to the park. The field is a walk from the station toward the Meadow Lake area
• Driving: Access via Grand Central Parkway or Van Wyck Expressway. Parking lots are available within the park

NYPD Permit Exemption

Operations at the Flushing Meadows designated field are exempt from the NYPD Unmanned Aircraft Permit requirement under 38 RCNY 24-02(b)(1). This is one of the key benefits of flying at a designated field: operators avoid the full permit application process, insurance requirements, and community notification obligations that apply to non-designated locations.

FAA Requirements

All federal FAA requirements apply in full at Flushing Meadows, as they do at every location in the United States:

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (commercial) or TRUST completion certificate (recreational under 49 U.S.C. 44809)
• FAA aircraft registration for drones at or above 0.55 lbs (250g)
• Standard Remote ID broadcast under 14 CFR Part 89 (required since September 16, 2023)
• LAANC airspace authorization for the applicable grid square

Airspace: LGA and JFK Impact

Flushing Meadows Corona Park sits in central Queens, in the zone influenced by both LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to the north and JFK Airport to the southeast. The LAANC grid ceiling at this location may be limited:

• Check the current LAANC grid ceiling using B4UFLY, Aloft, or another approved app before every flight
• The ceiling may be as low as 0 ft AGL depending on the specific grid square, requiring Further Coordination through FAA DroneZone
• Even with LAANC authorization, altitude limits may be well below the standard 400 ft AGL maximum
• Monitor NOTAMs for temporary flight restrictions, especially during events at Citi Field or the Tennis Center

Events and Temporary Restrictions

Flushing Meadows Corona Park hosts major sporting events throughout the year. During events at Citi Field (New York Mets games) and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (US Open), the FAA may issue temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) that affect the designated field area. Always check for active TFRs before planning operations.

Field Rules and Best Practices

• Fly only within the designated field boundaries near Meadow Lake. The rest of the park (including the Unisphere area, playgrounds, and sports facilities) remains under the parks drone ban
• Follow posted operating hours and site-specific rules
• Share the field with other model aircraft enthusiasts and communicate clearly about takeoff and landing
• Carry all FAA documentation
• Be aware of wind patterns, particularly from open areas around Meadow Lake