The Essential Glossary of NYC Drone Terms
Quick Answer: NYC drone compliance comes with its own vocabulary. This glossary defines the essential terms — LAANC, Remote ID, Part 107, § 10-126, 38 RCNY Chapter 24, OATH, PEP, COI, TFR, and others — in plain language, with the authority behind each. Understanding the terminology is the first step to operating with confidence, because drone flight in NYC is legal but requires authorization across federal, city, and state layers.
NYC drone law mixes federal aviation terminology with New York City administrative and criminal concepts. This glossary collects the terms you will encounter most often when reading rules, applying for permits, or assessing risk, and defines each in plain language. Use it alongside the detailed guides — clear terminology makes every other rule easier to apply.
Federal Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Part 107 | The FAA's Small UAS Rule (14 CFR Part 107) governing commercial drone operations and the Remote Pilot Certificate. |
| Remote ID | FAA-mandated broadcast identification for drones under 14 CFR Part 89. |
| LAANC | Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability — the FAA's near-real-time system for authorizing flight in controlled airspace. In much of Manhattan the ceiling is effectively 0 ft. |
| Class B airspace | The most tightly controlled airspace around major airports; all five boroughs sit within Class B anchored by JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark. |
| TFR | Temporary Flight Restriction — a time-limited FAA airspace restriction, common during major events. |
| SFRA | Special Flight Rules Area — a federal restricted area; the Washington, DC SFRA is a notable example with a No Drone Zone. |
| FSDO | Flight Standards District Office — the FAA's regional enforcement office. |
NYC and New York State Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| § 10-126 | NYC Administrative Code provision requiring an NYPD permit for any drone takeoff or landing in the city. |
| 38 RCNY Chapter 24 | The NYPD rule setting out the drone permit application requirements, fee, lead times, and insurance. |
| 1 RCNY § 1-05(r)(2) | The NYC Parks rule banning drones in all parks except designated model-aircraft fields. |
| OATH | Office of Administrative Trials & Hearings — NYC's administrative court for civil summonses. |
| PEP | Parks Enforcement Patrol — NYC Parks' uniformed officers who can issue summonses within parks. |
| MOME | Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment — issues NYC film permits, with separate insurance requirements. |
| POST Act | Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology Act — requires NYPD to disclose surveillance technology policies, including drone detection. |
| Reckless endangerment | NY Penal Law § 120.20 (Class A misdemeanor) / § 120.25 (Class D felony) — criminal exposure for endangering people. |
Insurance Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| COI | Certificate of Insurance — the document proving coverage; not the policy itself. |
| Additional Insured | A party (the City of New York for NYPD permits) added to the policy to receive direct coverage. |
| Per occurrence / Aggregate | The insurer's maximum payout per single incident ($2M for NYC permits) and across the whole policy period ($4M). |
Using the Glossary
Keep these definitions handy as you read the rules. Knowing that LAANC governs airspace authorization, that § 10-126 governs the local permit, and that a COI must name the City of New York as Additional Insured turns dense regulatory language into a clear, checkable list — which is exactly how compliant operators keep their flights legally clear.
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