Is See-And-Avoid Dead?

In August 8, 2009, a Piper PA-32R-300 Lance and a Eurocopter AS350BA collided over the Hudson River between New Jersey and Manhattan. The pilot and two passengers aboard the airplane, and the pilot and five passengers aboard the air-tour helicopter were killed. Both aircraft were substantially damaged. On September 14, 2010, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a public hearing to approve its probable cause finding. The NTSB determined "the inherent limitations of the see-and-avoid concept...made it difficult for the airplane pilot to see the helicopter until the final seconds before the collision." The NTSB also found fault with a Teterboro Airport (TEB) tower controller, who was on a personal telephone call as the Piper departed the facility.

Key Takeaways:

• The 2009 mid-air collision over the Hudson River between a plane and a helicopter killed all 9 occupants, with the NTSB citing "inherent limitations of the see-and-avoid concept" as the primary probable cause.
• The NTSB's finding was controversial, as a Teterboro Airport controller's distraction by a personal phone call led to a critical error in aircraft handoff, preventing essential traffic advisories.
• Both aircraft were equipped with Traffic Information Service (TIS) collision avoidance technology, which failed to prevent the accident despite its presence.
• Following the collision, the FAA implemented significant airspace restructuring, new pilot operating rules, and training for the Hudson River Special Flight Rules Area (FAR Part 93, Subpart W) to enhance safety.

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