NEW YORK
DRONE OPERATOR
FAA licensed drone operators in New York City flying for film, TV, commercials, live events and broadcast productions across the Tri-State Area.
DRONE OPERATORS FOR FILM, TV,
COMMERCIALS & LIVE EVENTS IN NEW YORK
We Fly Aerial Media is an aerial cinematography and specialty camera movement company with an experienced crew base in New York City. Our FAA Part 107 licensed pilots and aerial camera operators have thousands of flight hours on film, television, commercials, live broadcast and event productions throughout the Tri-State Area — including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, New Jersey and Connecticut. We carry waivers for night operations and flight over people, and hold a $10 million aviation liability policy meeting the requirements of all domestic and international studios and networks.
All New York drone operations include full permit coordination at both the local and federal level — working with the NYPD, the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, and the Federal Aviation Administration for all necessary airspace authorizations. Platforms include the DJI Inspire 3 with X9-Air 8K, DJI Mavic 4 Pro, Freefly Alta X heavy lift drone and DJI Mini 5 Pro approved for operations over people and movinng vehicles.
Credits Include
Rockefeller Center
AIDA Cruises
Chanel - 30 Rockefeller Plaza
Lego FIFA World Cup
Get Your Guide
Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4%
The North Face Climb Festival
PLATFORMS & CAMERAS
NEW YORK DRONE PACKAGES
DJI INSPIRE 3 + X9-AIR
- 8K Full Frame · 14+ Stops
- 44MP full-frame stills (8192 × 5456)
- CinemaDNG, ProRes RAW + 422HQ
- DL lenses: 18mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm (F2.8) + 75mm (F1.8)
DJI MAVIC 4 PRO
- 28, 70, 168mm triple lens system
- 100MP DNG RAW photos
- 6K HDR Video
- Compact — ideal for tight city streets
FREEFLY ALTA X HEAVY LIFT
- Sony Venice + Venice 2
- ARRI Alexa Mini, Mini LF, Alexa 35
- RED Komodo + V-Raptor
- Freefly MōVI Pro or DJI Ronin 2
Frequently Asked Questions
How much notice is required for drone permits in New York City?
For drone operations in NYC, an New York Police Department UAS permit is required, which takes a minimum of 14 calendar days to process. We recommend reaching out as early as possible to ensure all necessary approvals are secured in time for your shoot.
Do you handle the permit process for aerial filming?
Yes! We take care of all required aerial permits, including NYPD UAS permits, FAA airspace authorizations, and any additional local or federal approvals necessary for your production.
Where can drones legally fly in New York City?
Drone flights in NYC are heavily restricted. We work within all FAA and NYPD regulations to operate legally in approved locations, including private properties with appropriate permissions and controlled environments for productions.
Can you fly drones near Times Square, Central Park, or other high-profile locations?
Filming in high-profile locations such as Times Square, Central Park, and Midtown Manhattan requires special approvals and coordination with multiple agencies. While it’s possible, additional time and planning are needed to secure the necessary clearances.
What insurance coverage do you carry?
All of our aerial operations are covered by a $10 million aviation liability insurance policy, meeting the requirements of major studios, networks, and production companies.
Can you fly drones over people?
Yes. We Fly Aerial Media holds a unique FAA § 107.39 Operation Over Human Beings waiver — an authorization most drone operators do not have. It allows our team to legally and safely fly over people on film, TV, commercial and live event productions.
Flights over people are conducted with our smaller drone platforms equipped with dedicated safety mechanisms, including propeller guards, under the operating conditions of our waiver. Every over-people operation is planned by our team with site-specific safety procedures, trained visual observers and full coordination with production.
This waiver is what makes shots like crowd flyovers at concerts, festivals, sporting events and busy set environments possible — legally, with the FAA's approval, and fully covered by our $10-25M aviation liability policy.
CALL US
(646) 543-3834EMAIL US
TEAM@WEFLYAERIALMEDIA.COMGET IN TOUCH
COME FLY NEW YORK
Tell us about your project — platform, location, dates and any specific requirements — and we'll get back to you within the hour.
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