Aerial Imagery in Syracuse, NY

Airports & LAANC Zones

• SYR — Syracuse Hancock International Airport (Class C airspace, approximately 5 NM north of downtown — medium-hub commercial airport serving Central New York; LAANC available)
• OZR — Oswego County Airport (Class E airspace, approximately 35 NM northwest — uncontrolled GA airport near Lake Ontario; no LAANC required but check NOTAMs)
• RME — Rome Griffiss International Airport (Class D airspace, approximately 40 NM east — former Air Force base with Air National Guard 174th Attack Wing MQ-9 Reaper operations; LAANC available and check for military UAS activity)
• SYF — Syracuse Airpark (private/restricted airspace, within city limits — small GA facility; check restrictions before operating)
• UCA — Oneonta Municipal Airport (Class E airspace, approximately 65 NM southeast — uncontrolled GA airport; no LAANC required)

Restricted Airspace

• Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) has Class C airspace with a 5 NM radius surface area and outer shelf extending to 10 NM. The Class C covers northern Syracuse, the town of Salina, DeWitt, and parts of Liverpool and Clay. Commercial drone operations within the SYR Class C lateral boundaries require LAANC authorization. SYR is the primary commercial airport for Central New York with significant passenger, cargo, and military charter traffic. Downtown Syracuse is generally within the Class C outer shelf area.
• Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, co-located with Syracuse Hancock International Airport, hosts the 174th Attack Wing which operates MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial systems. The 174th Wing conducts training operations in the Syracuse military operations areas and restricted airspace over Lake Ontario. Commercial drone operators in the Syracuse region should check NOTAMs for MQ-9 training activity, as military UAS operations can affect airspace availability at lower altitudes. The 174th Wing also operates the Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS) which monitors the Northeast U.S. airspace.
• The Griffiss International Airport (RME) in Rome, NY, approximately 40 NM east of Syracuse, has Class D airspace and was formerly Griffiss Air Force Base. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Information Directorate at Griffiss conducts drone research and development, and the site has been designated as one of the FAA's UAS test sites (NERC — Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance). Commercial operators working across the Syracuse-Rome corridor should check for UAS test site activities and Griffiss Class D boundaries.
• Onondaga Lake and the surrounding Onondaga Lake Park have moderate helicopter traffic including news, medevac, and State Police helicopters. The lake is a former industrial site undergoing a $500+ million environmental remediation managed by Honeywell. Drone operators flying near the lakefront and the Onondaga Lake cleanup sites should coordinate with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and Honeywell remediation teams, as aerial mapping of the cleanup is an active commercial drone application.
• The Adirondack Park boundary begins approximately 40 NM northeast of Syracuse. The Adirondack Park is a 6-million-acre state-protected area with specific drone regulations under the Adirondack Park Agency (APA). Commercial drone operations within the park require an APA permit in addition to the standard state parks permit (9 NYCRR 375.1). While Syracuse itself is outside the park, operators traveling to projects in the Adirondack region should be aware of these additional restrictions.

Local Ordinances

Syracuse is governed by New York state drone law (NY Penal Law 250.55) and FAA Part 107 regulations. The City of Syracuse does not have a specific municipal drone ordinance as of 2026, but commercial drone takeoff and landing on city-owned property requires authorization from the Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreation and Youth Programs. City parks including Onondaga Park, Thornden Park, Burnet Park, and the Creekwalk trail system require explicit permission for commercial drone operations. Onondaga County parks (including Onondaga Lake Park, Green Lakes State Park, and Jamesville Beach County Park) require a commercial use permit from the Onondaga County Parks Department. Commercial drone filming for movies, TV, or advertising requires a film permit from the Syracuse/Onondaga County Film Office. New York State parks require a permit under 9 NYCRR 375.1. The Onondaga Lake environmental remediation site has specific airspace coordination requirements managed by Honeywell and the NYS DEC — commercial aerial imaging of the remediation area requires project-level authorization. FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification is required for all commercial operations. LAANC authorization is required for flights within SYR Class C airspace boundaries.