N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 241

§ 241. Qualifications of operator; federal license. The public safety\nrequiring, and the advantages of uniform regulation making it desirable,\nin the interest of aeronautical progress, that a person engaging within\nthis state in operating aircraft, in any form of avigation for which a\nlicense to operate aircraft issued by the United States government would\nthen be required if such avigation were interstate, should have the\nqualifications necessary for obtaining and holding such a license, it\nshall be unlawful for any person to engage in operating aircraft within\nthe state, in any such form of avigation, unless he have such a license.\n