Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related
On departure from runway 31L at JFK we were informed by the Departure Controller of a drone sighting by the preceding aircraft. The Controller gave us a heading and advised us that the drone had been seen to the preceding aircraft's right at 3000 feet msl. We turned to the assigned heading (autopilot on; but yoke in hand; just in case); and were both scanning outside the aircraft. I spotted the drone just before we went abeam it; on our LEFT side; at 3000 (we were just above it in the climb; perhaps 50 feet higher). Our geographic location at the time was approximately 3/4 of a mile northeast of the former Coast Guard air station. We passed the drone without the need for evasive action. We immediately notified ATC; and I remembered to press the FDR (Flight Data Recorder) Event button to save the location data. I later (when time permitted) ACARSed our dispatcher so as to make sure the FDR data would be preserved. It was a large drone; and appeared to have some kind of parachute/balloon attachment. Had we made contact it would have been very bad. The remainder of the flight was uneventful. I would note that the turn given [to] us by ATC was entirely proper based on available data. The Controller had only one data point from the preceding aircraft to go by; and made a best guess as to the safest course of action. The Controller did give us ample warning to be aware; thus having us in the correct position to take evasive action had it been necessary. I was somewhat surprised that departures and arrivals continued. I would have suggested stopping them; and sending up a police helicopter to locate the drone and thus have a specific location before sending larger and fast passenger aircraft into the area.
Air carrier Captain reported a close encounter with a UAV on climbout from JFK Runway 31L after being informed by Departure Control that the preceding aircraft had reported sighting a drone.