Recently, Assembly Bill 1439 was introduced in the New York State Assembly with the goal of inserting language related to unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones, into existing state vehicle and traffic laws. The bill’s sponsor is Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, a Democrat from New York’s 129th Assembly District, and AUVSI applauds him for taking this important step.

Basically, the law proposes to codify specific UAS flight precautions and safety measures required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) into New York State law. This level of clarity is essential as the drone industry continues to attract hobbyists and professionals alike, while also giving due deference to established rules and procedures created by the FAA.

One critical line in this bill worth pointing out is its dictate that “political subdivisions shall not enact or enforce an ordinance or resolution that regulates the ownership or operation of unmanned aircraft or otherwise engage in the regulation of the ownership or operation of unmanned aircraft.” Previously in the bill, political subdivisions were defined as counties, villages, and the like and by inserting this preemption language, Assemblyman Magnarelli is attempting to defend against future patchwork laws and regulations that plague drone operators in other states – New Jersey being a prime example.

Especially with the recent Remote ID Rulemaking issued by the FAA, the drone industry is poised for exponential growth and will continue to deliver various market expectations in a safe and responsible manner. Safety is a bedrock value of the drone industry, and this proposed law only furthers that goal by clarifying drone operation guidelines in the state of New York. The state is already benefitting from expanded drone use – the 50-mile drone corridor in upstate NY is a great example of that – and will continue to benefit as the commercial uses for drones multiply. Conducting industrial inspections is a prominent example of positive future use cases for drones – imagine a remote operator inspecting power lines and energy facilities from a safe distance and on the ground, instead of working out of a cherry-picker or in potentially dangerous conditions.

This bill is a very important next step in the safe, full-scale integration of drones into commercial and recreational activities, and Assemblyman Magnarelli is showing true leadership in introducing this bill. AUVSI is ready to support this effort however we can, and we hope to see this bill considered in committee soon.