The sky above the Hudson River is going to be lit up by drones. You might ask why. It is the 10th anniversary of the Candy crush Saga. It is necessary to fill the western New York City skyline with displays of poking a cupcake to make other cupcakes explode.
Legislators and bird advocates in New York City are against the planned display.
A fleet of 500 drones will take to the air from Liberty State Park in New Jersey before heading out to the shoreline. The drones will fly up to 400 feet above the ground, where they will perform a 15-minute show.
Since it is against the law to fly drones in New York City, the display is staying away from the city. New Jersey has laws that prohibit drones from flying in its state parks, but the company that operates the drones, Pixis, was granted a permit to fly from the edge of Liberty State Park. The display is meant to take one of the world's most beloved mobile games to the world's biggest screen.
There will be 25 people on the far side of the Hudson using drones and snapping pictures. Even though it will be closer to New Jersey than Manhattan, the drones are supposed to recreate icons from the game.
It's difficult to identify which governing entity has jurisdiction over the air above the Hudson River. The air above the Hudson is controlled by the FAA and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The FAA told Gizmodo thatPixis drones is responsible for coordinating with local law enforcement, park police, city officials and others. Waivers are usually required in order to operate more than one drone at a time. If an aircraft gets too close, the agency reviews drone shows to make sure they are safe. Operators of drones use technology to limit where they fly to.
The migratory season for many bird populations moving from Canada down to Central and South America could not be worse. According to the director of the New York City Audubon, artificial light is a factor in the deaths of a quarter of a million birds in New York City. The Hudson isn't polluted with a lot of artificial light.
The light show over the Hudson corridor may have a negative effect on bird populations. With many bird species on the decline, anything that may harm migratory species is something that needs close attention.
He said that they would have flagged it as something that shouldn't happen during migration. It is a cut for the bird populations that are dying.
The Candy Crush promotion is not the first time the company has done a show over the Hudson. In June, the NBA held a huge drone show. There are giant lights that put out messages.
Brad Hoylman is a state senator from Western Manhattan. In an email statement to Gizmodo, he called the FAA and New Jersey's permission of the drone show "outrageous", adding that the "profit-seeking drone show threatens the public safety, wildlife, and peaceful enjoyment of New York City's waterfront"
Hoylman has been railing against the ads for a long time. New York City won a lawsuit against the giant floating advertisements that were frequently seen floating down the Hudson. Ballyhoo Media had to pay $100,000 to the city to move their billboard boat. Hoylman sponsored a law. The "Stop the Chop Act" would allow the New York Attorney General to file nuisance complaints against drones in New York airspace. The bill was passed by the state senate in June and is waiting for the governor to sign it.
Compared to countries like China which have performed drone shows for major events like the Winter Olympics as well as relatively small affairs like the release of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Classic, the U.S. does not have a lot of drone shows.
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