Did The FAA Get This One Right?

In last months Editors Log, under the heading, "Unwritten Rules," we discussed the tragic August 8, 2009, mid-air collision between a Piper PA-32R-300 and Eurocopter AS350 operating as a for-hire tour over the Hudson River off New York City. The Piper had just departed nearby Teterboro Airport while the helicopter had launched a few moments before from the West 30th Street Heliport. The two collided over the Hudson Rivers west bank; all nine aboard both aircraft perished. The collision engendered just the kind of hysteria to which those who pay attention to the mass medias coverage of general aviation have grown accustomed. Elected officials and average citizens alike marched forth to complain there were no rules concerning such operations, and non-scheduled flights should be (choose one or all) banned, subject to specific training and approvals or under new operating rules, including positive ATC direction.

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Friday, September 18, 2009 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

ATP Flight School relies heavily on Piper airplanes for its single-engine training. [Credit: ATP Flight School]

Key Takeaways:

A tragic mid-air collision over the Hudson River on August 8, 2009, prompted public and political calls for new operating rules for general aviation in the area.
On September 2, 2009, the FAA announced plans to restructure the Hudson River airspace, mandate new pilot operating rules, standardize charts, and develop new training programs.
Aviation Safety magazine is launching new multimedia content, including podcasts and videos, to discuss these proposed changes and related issues, starting with a roundtable discussion.

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In last months Editors Log, under the heading, “Unwritten Rules,” we discussed the tragic August 8, 2009, mid-air collision between a Piper PA-32R-300 and Eurocopter AS350 operating as a for-hire tour over the Hudson River off New York City. The Piper had just departed nearby Teterboro Airport while the helicopter had launched a few moments before from the West 30th Street Heliport. The two collided over the Hudson Rivers west bank; all nine aboard both aircraft perished.