Senate Bill S7621

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7621

SPONSOR: MARTINEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to authorize the study of general aviation flight operations by
the department of transportation

 
PURPOSE:

To direct the department of transportation to conduct a study of
Aviation flight operations by residents of the state

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 authorizes and directs the department of transportation to
conduct a study of general aviation flight operations. Such study will
be carried out with the purpose of identifying the trends in flight
operations in the state. The study will be contained in a report submit-
ted to the governor and the legislature no later than two years after
the effective date of this act.

              

Section 2 provides that the act will take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In recent years, there have been increasing incidents of small planes
crashing down from the sky, causing damage to lives and homes. For exam-
ple, In August 2019, a small plane crashed-Into a home in Dutchess coun-
ty, killing one of the occupants, injuring others and causing the house
to burn. In January of 2022, a small plane owned by a company that has
been linked to at least six fatalities since 2014 crashed in West-Ches-
ter. Most recently, in December of 2024, a small plane crashed onto
1-684 in Westchester County, tragically killing one of the plane's two
passengers.

Safety guidelines-and guidance are fundamental to avoid this type of
fateful accident. However, they are exclusively within the power of the
Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") to regulate and oversee.  Addi-
tionally, New York does not require owners of general aviation aircrafts
to register with the Department of Transportation.  Consequently, there
is a lack of state-level information regarding crashes and the number of
general aviation aircrafts in circulation. The absence of this data
makes it difficult to address shortfalls in current flight operations
and improve the safety of pilots, passengers, and persons and property
on the ground in New York.

This bill would direct the Department of Transportation to study
aviation flight operations. Specifically, the department would be
required to compile accident and crash statistics, as well as assess the
relative safety of flight operations in New York and in other states. By
providing this information to the Legislature, policymakers will have
the necessary information to understand best practices and make
evidence-based policy decisions that will promote the safety of New
Yorkers.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.