FAA: Drones allowed to fly over schools

BETHLEHEM — A drone on Thursday, Oct. 12, flew over several public schools in town — Slingerlands Elementary, Eagle Elementary, and the Bethlehem Central High School — causing reports to the police.
Bethlehem officers responded and located the pilot who provided his Federal Aviation Administration credentials and explained he works for CoStar Group, a commercial real estate company.

According to the FAA, said a release from the Bethlehem Police, the drone pilot has the legal authority to fly the drone over schools as they are not designated “no fly zones.”

Bethlehem Police asked the CoStar Group to notify them and the school district “regarding future activities that require them to fly over school grounds.”

More Bethlehem News

  • The town executed a lease agreement at its March meeting that would charge Michael Stanton, of Stanton Farms, LLC,  $45 per acre for 216 tillable acres at the historic Heath Farm property. Stanton Farm, which had already farmed the land under an agreement with the previous property owner, was the only applicant for the lease.

  • BETHLEHEM — Work is underway on a path that will connect pedestrians and cyclists in neighborhood

  • Using a grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the town of Bethlehem purchased 68 acres from town residents Marilyn Stangle and Betty Nolan, who wanted to protect the land from solar developers. The town had previously approved around $50,000 of its own funds to cover extra expenses, but ended up using just half that. 

The Altamont Enterprise is focused on hyper-local, high-quality journalism. We produce free election guides, curate readers' opinion pieces, and engage with important local issues. Subscriptions open full access to our work and make it possible.