A vehicle having or not having air brakes has no bearing on whether or not it requires a CDL.
On the weight rating, New York State has a pretty unique law. While federal law permits vehicles up to 26,000 lbs. to be driven without a CDL, New York requires that an intrastate commercial use vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of more than 18,000 lbs. requires a CDL.
Only if you're operating it on a for-hire basis. For personal, recreational use, you do not.
If it's not a firefighting or first response vehicle, recreational vehicle, registered farm vehicle, or military vehicle (operated by military personnel in the course of their duties), then yes - not because of the the air brakes, but because of the weight rating of more than 26,000 lbs. GVWR.
Air brakes are entirely irrelevant as far as whether or not that vehicle needs a CDL is concerned. The only time you need a CDL to drive an RV is when you're operating it on a for-hire basis, either as a driver for hire or as a transporter.
Only if it's a vehicle equipped with air brakes.
The air brakes don't matter, insofar as whether or not a CDL is required. As for the GVW being over 26,000 lbs., yes, unless your vehicle falls in criteria for the farm vehicle, military vehicle, emergency vehicle, or recreational vehicle exemptions.
Only if it's either hauling a quantity of hazardous materials which requires placarding, or if it's a bus designed to transport more than 15 persons (including the driver).
You only need a CDL for a vehicle under 26,000 lbs. GVWR if it's designed to carry more than 15 passengers (including the driver) or if it's carrying hazardous materials in an amount which requires placards to be displayed.
If the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating - not the actual laden weight at the time - is under 26,000 lbs., then no. You will, however, need a current and valid DOT medical card.
Air brakes are not a factor in determining whether or not a vehicle requires a CDL, in any state or territory of the US, period. The only instances when such a vehicle as you describe would require a CDL would be in the case of hazmat haulers and buses designed to transport more than 15 persons (including the driver).
No. Air brakes are not a factor in determining whether or not a CDL is required in any state. The only instance in which you would need a CDL is in cases where the vehicle is transporting an amount of hazardous materials which requires the display of placards, or when it's a bus designed to transport more than 15 persons (including the driver).
So long as the weight rating of the vehicle doesn't exceed 26k, yes, with two exceptions - you would need a Class C (minimum) CDL with hazmat endorsement if the vehicle is transporting a quantity of hazardous materials which requires placards to be displayed, and you would need a Class C (minimum) CDL with passenger endorsement if it is a bus designed to transport more than 15 passengers (including the driver).
Air brakes have absolutely ZERO determination in whether or not a vehicle requires a CDL.