Submitting Your Flight Details and Plan on the NYPD Drone Permit Application (2026)

The Flight Details section is the heart of the NYPD Unmanned Aircraft permit application, because it defines exactly what the permit will authorize. A permit covers only the specific dates, times, and locations stated on it. Flying in New York City is legal, but it requires authorization, so your flight plan must be accurate and consistent with your FAA approvals.

What the Flight Details Section Requires

The Five-Combination Limit

A single application may include up to five combinations of proposed dates, times, and locations (38 RCNY § 24-03(d)(2)). If your project needs more than five, submit separate applications — and remember the $150 fee applies to each one.

Altitude Must Match Your FAA Authorization

The maximum AGL altitude you enter must equal the altitude on your FAA LAANC or DroneZone authorization. Because many NYC grid cells have a LAANC ceiling of 0 ft AGL, you will often hold a DroneZone authorization that specifies your approved altitude. Entering a higher number on the NYPD form than your FAA authorization permits creates a conflict between the city and federal layers and will not be approved.

Build In Backup Dates

Changes to dates after submission are not permitted (per the NYPD FAQ). Because weather is unpredictable, include alternate dates within your five combinations so a single bad-weather day does not waste your application. Plan the buffer before you submit, not after.

The Federal Flight-Plan Layer

The NYPD Flight Details section governs the city's authorization. Separately, your FAA obligations under 14 CFR Part 107 still apply on the day: maintaining visual line of sight, observing operating limits, and flying within the airspace authorization you obtained. The city permit and the FAA authorization describe the same flight from two angles; keep the altitude, location, and timing consistent across both so the operation is fully compliant.

Documents Tied to Your Flight Plan

Your flight plan is only credible if the supporting documents match it. The altitude you list must be backed by a LAANC authorization screenshot or an FAA DroneZone authorization for that location and altitude (38 RCNY § 24-03). If your operation will capture or transmit images, video, or audio, your flight path also drives your notice obligations: you must identify every community district the aircraft is anticipated to capture imagery in and notify the relevant Community Board(s), then post physical notices within 100 ft of the take-off and landing site at least 48 hours before the flight (38 RCNY § 24-05(e)). A flight path that crosses several districts can require notifying several boards, so finalize the path before you prepare those notices.

Keep a Setup-and-Breakdown Buffer

The NYPD User Guide advises including a buffer in your landing date and time for setup and breakdown. Real operations rarely begin and end exactly on the minute, so build that margin into the times you submit rather than cutting the window tight. Because changes to dates after submission are not permitted, a generous but realistic window listed up front is far better than discovering on the day that your work runs past the authorized time.