You dont need an avy beacon for any NY skiing. Where is he planning on going? there are only a few places and few times a year at most that I could think of taking a avy beacon on the states east coast, to many trees for avy conditions to exist, as you dont have melt/freeze cycles as we do on the west coast. If you still want one....they are readily available at most ski stores and/or REI can order you one. A beacon is USELESS unless you have practiced with it, and everyone else in your group must have one and know how to use it for it to do any good.
). Anyway he is going to New York, dous any one knows a shop in NY that sells avalanche beacon's ?