New York’s airspace could be changing. The Hudson River VFR corridor came under fresh and vociferous political attack in the wake of the August 8 fatal midair between a Piper PA-32R piston single and a Liberty Helicopters Eurocopter AS 350BA. The accident killed nine. Following the crash, the FAA announced that it is studying possible changes to the airspace rules in the area and said that a Teterboro tower air traffic controller handling the Piper and his supervisor have been placed on administrative leave.
At a press conference on August 10, a group of local politicians led by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) denounced the FAA’s “Wild West approach” to regulating the airspace, and city council member Gale Brewer demanded a ban on helicopter tour flights in the area. Nadler said, “It is unconscionable that the FAA permits unregulated flights in crowded airspace in a major metropolitan area.” He called for mandatory TCAS on all U.S. GA aircraft and compulsory flight plans for every aircraft using the Hudson corridor regardless of altitude. NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, himself a licensed fixed-wing and helicopter pilot, defended the corridor, calling it important to tourism, but said he was open to increased regulation of the airspace.
More In ATC
